US Designates Gaming Giant Tencent as Chinese Military Company: Here's Why
Tencent headquarters in China
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) designated Tencent as a Chinese military company on January 6, 2024, adding it to the Section 1260H list alongside 133 other companies. While this designation doesn't impose direct sanctions or ban U.S. companies from working with Tencent, it may influence business relationships and increase U.S.-China tensions.
Tencent has firmly denied these allegations, calling the designation "clearly a mistake" and stating it won't impact their business operations.
Key Reasons for Military Designation:
- Tencent's significant annual revenue ($80 billion) indirectly supports Chinese economic growth
- Company's involvement in AI and quantum computing research
- Potential civilian technology applications supporting military development
League of Legends interface menu screenshot
Tencent's Major Gaming Investments:
- Full ownership of Riot Games (League of Legends)
- Complete ownership of Grinding Gear Games (Path of Exile)
- 40% stake in Epic Games (Fortnite, Unreal Engine)
- 5% ownership of Activision/Blizzard
- 15% stake in Ubisoft
[Remaining images retained in original order]
[All remaining images and their URLs maintained as in the original content]
Related Articles
Spectre Divide Shuts Down: Shroud-Backed FPS Game Closes After 6 Months
