US adds 25 Chinese firms to Entity List over concerns about military tech development

The US Commerce Department has added 25 Chinese companies and two from Singapore to its Entity List, restricting their access to US goods and technology. This action aims to limit China's development of military and surveillance technology. Among the blacklisted firms are Zhipu AI, involved in AI research, and Sophgo, a chipmaker linked to Huawei. The US is concerned about their roles in advancing China's military capabilities through access to advanced semiconductors. These restrictions follow tighter export rules on semiconductors, especially for AI applications. Companies must now ensure their products do not support military programs, increasing scrutiny on their supply chains.