Tencent Games added to US' enterprises blacklist

Tencent, the Chinese tech and gaming giant, has recently been blacklisted by the United States Department of Defense. The DoD added Tencent to its list of “Chinese Military Companies” due to alleged ties to the Chinese military. This move is part of the broader U.S. government effort to restrict business with companies linked to the Chinese military.

In response, Tencent has stated that its inclusion on the list is a “misunderstanding”. The company emphasized that it is neither a military company nor a military-civil fusion contributor to the Chinese defense industrial base. Tencent’s spokesperson told The Verge mentioned that the listing has no impact on their business but that they will work with the Department of Defense to address any misunderstandings.

Unlike sanctions or export controls, this listing has no impact on our business. We will nonetheless work with the Department of Defense to address any misunderstanding.

It’s definitely a significant development, especially considering Tencent’s vast influence in the gaming industry, owning stakes in companies like Riot Games (League of Legends), Epic Games (Fortnite), and many others.