Chinese technology giant Xiaomi has strongly rejected calls by a group of US lawmakers to add the company to a Pentagon list of firms allegedly linked to China’s military. Xiaomi describes the proposal as “baseless” and misleading.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Xiaomi said it operates solely as a consumer-focused company. It has no affiliation with China’s armed forces. The company stressed that it designs and sells products strictly for civilian and commercial use.
“We are not a Chinese military company, nor are we affiliated with any military entities,” Xiaomi said. The company added that there is no justification for its inclusion on the Pentagon’s Section 1260H list.
US lawmakers want DeepSeek, Xiaomi on list of Chinese military-linked firms https://t.co/2GASIsDZ7S
— South China Morning Post (@SCMPNews) December 19, 2025The response followed an open letter from nine Republican lawmakers. This group included several congressional committee chairs, urging US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to expand the Section 1260H list. Lawmakers called for the addition of more than a dozen Chinese technology firms due to alleged national security concerns.
The letter also names the artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek and the humanoid-robot manufacturer Unitree. It includes companies operating in biotechnology, life sciences, embodied AI, and advanced chip development.
Nine lawmakers, including several Republican committee chairmen, have formally requested that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth add artificial intelligence firm DeepSeek and electronics giant Xiaomi to the government's list of entities accused of aiding the Chinese military.
The… pic.twitter.com/VWhmrVP6Vh
— Spotlight on China (@spotlightoncn) December 23, 2025The Section 1260H list identifies companies that the US Department of Defence believes have links to China’s military. While inclusion does not automatically trigger sanctions, it signals potential security and reputational risks. US agencies and businesses that engage with listed firms are impacted.
Neither DeepSeek nor Unitree had commented publicly on the matter by Tuesday. The Pentagon also declined to respond to media queries.In early 2021, the US Department of Defence designated Xiaomi as a “Communist Chinese Military Company.” Xiaomi challenged the decision in court and won, securing its removal from the list later that year.
Other Chinese firms have taken similar legal routes. Drone maker DJI has also pushed back against US government classifications related to national security concerns.
Xiaomi said the renewed effort to target the company ignores both its business model and past court rulings. It reiterated its commitment to transparency and compliance in global markets as geopolitical scrutiny of Chinese technology firms intensifies.
