White House Accuses Alibaba of Aiding Chinese Military Against US
A declassified White House memo alleges Chinese tech giant Alibaba has been supporting the People’s Liberation Army in targeting US interests, according to a Financial Times report.
Key Allegations
- Alibaba allegedly provided PLA access to sensitive customer data and AI tools
- Company accused of sharing zero-day software vulnerability knowledge
- White House claims capabilities pose direct threat to US security
Details of the Allegations
The Financial Times reported that the White House memo outlines a troubling pattern where Alibaba supposedly gave the Chinese military access to IP addresses, WiFi data, payment records, and AI-linked services. Some employees are accused of passing information about previously unknown software flaws that could provide China with cyber operation advantages.
US Official Response
“We take these threats very seriously,” a US official stated, noting the administration is working continuously to contain cyber intrusions through untrusted vendors. Officials acknowledged they couldn’t independently verify all details but said the allegations reflect broader concerns about Chinese cloud and AI companies’ reach.
Alibaba’s Strong Denial
Alibaba completely rejected the accusations. “The assertions and innuendos in the article are completely false,” the company said in a statement. They questioned the motivation behind the anonymous leak and called it a “malicious PR operation” aimed at undermining former President Trump’s trade deal with China.
China’s Embassy Reaction
China’s embassy in Washington strongly pushed back, with spokesperson Liu Pengyu stating: “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.”
The White House declined to comment on the specific allegations.
