A Chinese pharmaceutical company has launched a federal lawsuit against the Pentagon after being designated as having ties to China’s military operations.
WuXi AppTec announced Thursday that it submitted legal papers to a U.S. district court challenging the Department of Defense’s decision to place the firm on a registry of Chinese entities allegedly supporting Beijing’s armed forces.
The pharmaceutical company finds itself among major Chinese corporations on this registry, including technology giant Alibaba, search engine company Baidu, and electric vehicle manufacturers BYD and NIO, all of which Washington suspects of assisting China’s military capabilities.
Pentagon officials released the comprehensive registry earlier this week, encompassing numerous prominent Chinese technology enterprises that authorities believe contribute to Beijing’s defense and manufacturing capabilities. The move highlights ongoing national security worries as tensions escalate between the two superpowers.
This legal challenge follows WuXi’s Tuesday statement promising swift measures to contest and rectify what the company termed an “erroneous designation.”
According to exchange documents filed Thursday, WuXi is requesting that courts invalidate the Pentagon’s classification of the company as a “Chinese military company” and strike the firm from the official registry.
When contacted for response, a Pentagon representative stated that the Department maintains a policy of not discussing active or prospective legal proceedings.
