WASHINGTON is accusing tech heavyweight Alibaba of quietly helping China’s military target the United States.
The bombshell claims were made in a national security memo that cites declassified “top secret” intelligence.
The document, shared with the Financial Times, reportedly outlines how Alibaba provides the People’s Liberation Army with technology and data that US officials believe could undermine national security.
According to the White House memo, Alibaba allegedly supplies the PLA with “different AI-related services” and access to customer information.
This includes IP addresses, WiFi details and payment records, it’s been claimed.
Employees were also said to have transferred knowledge involving “zero-day” exploits, or previously unknown software vulnerabilities.
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Alibaba flatly rejected the allegations, saying: “The claims purportedly based on US intelligence that was leaked by your source are complete nonsense.
“This is plainly an attempt to manipulate public opinion and malign Alibaba.”
In a separate statement to Reuters, the company added: “The assertions and innuendos in the article are completely false…
“This malicious PR operation clearly came from a rogue voice looking to undermine President Trumps recent trade deal with China.”
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The memo, dated November 1, was issued just after President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, where the two leaders agreed to a one-year truce on trade curbs.
US officials did not detail what the PLA is allegedly targeting.
But the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has warned that China is capable of compromising American infrastructure in ways that could be deployed in a conflict.
A March threat assessment pointed to sweeping Chinese cyber campaigns — including a major penetration of US telecom networks dubbed “Salt Typhoon” — as evidence of the “growing breadth and depth” of Beijing’s capabilities.
A US official told the FT the administration “takes these threats very seriously and is working day and night to mitigate the ongoing and potential risks and effects from [cyber] intrusions that use untrusted vendors.” The White House and CIA declined to comment.
Lawmakers have long raised alarms about major Chinese tech firms’ ties to Beijing.
House China committee chair John Moolenaar said the new claims fit with concerns that Chinese law strips away customer protections worldwide.
“The federal government and industry must take steps to protect the American people and eliminate Chinese companies’ access to our markets and innovation,” he said.
The Chinese embassy dismissed the White House memo as a “complete distortion of facts.”
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Spokesperson Liu Pengyu said China opposes all forms of cyberattacks and added: “Without valid evidence, the US jumped to an unwarranted conclusion and made groundless accusations against China.
“It is extremely irresponsible and is a complete distortion of facts. China firmly opposes this.”
