China has condemned the US Department of Defense’s expansion of its list of alleged “Chinese military companies,” accusing Washington of abusing national security concerns to impede Chinese economic growth. The updated list, released on Monday, now includes 188 companies, a significant increase from the 134 listed previously. Beijing has vowed a strong response to the move, framing it as an attempt to suppress the development of Chinese businesses. The US maintains the list is necessary to protect national interests and prevent American investment from supporting China’s military advancements. The Section 1260H list, mandated by US law, identifies entities with ties to the Chinese military. This escalation further strains the already complex relationship between the two global powers. The move is expected to limit US investment in the listed Chinese firms.