The U.S. government recently placed Tencent on its blacklist. As reported by Bloomberg, this decision is based on alleged connections between the tech and entertainment behemoth and the Chinese military. However, Tencent firmly believes this move is a mistake.
Danny Marti, a spokesperson for Tencent, clarified their position: “We are neither a military company nor a supplier. While this listing won’t directly affect our business like sanctions or export controls might, we intend to collaborate with the Department of Defense to clear up any misconceptions.”
The roots of this blacklist trace back to an executive order from 2020 under former President Trump, which prohibited American companies from investing in Chinese businesses with military ties.
Tencent holds the title of the largest gaming company worldwide by any standard. Its impressive portfolio includes full ownership of Riot Games, Funcom, and Sumo Digital, plus significant investments in Epic Games, Remedy, and Larian Studios.
