Sources confirm Alibaba has filed a federal lawsuit against the US Department of Defense, challenging its designation as a ‘Chinese military company’. The blacklist, which bars US firms from investing, was imposed just days before Trump’s inauguration. Internal memos show the move was pushed by Pentagon hawks citing ‘national security risks’.
But the real story? UK intelligence officials privately admit this preserves the Five Eyes alliance’s technological advantage. One source put it bluntly: ‘We can’t afford Alibaba having access to sensitive data.
This fight isn’t about fairness, it’s about control.’ The lawsuit alleges the blacklist is ‘arbitrary and capricious’, but documents suggest the US had been building a case for months. Alibaba’s cloud division, which provides data services to governments worldwide, is the prime target.
If the court rules against the US, it could destabilise Five Eyes cooperation. Either way, the money trail leads straight to Westminster, where ministers have remained conspicuously silent. The trial is set for June.
Expect more leaks before then.
