Tencent was added to the Defense Department’s list of “Chinese military companies,” contributing to a selloff in U.S.-listed shares of the WeChat owner.

A staff member cleans a display showing the locations of battery maker CATL's production bases, at the CATL booth during the first China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, China November 28,

The U.S. Defense Department has added dozens of Chinese companies, including games and technology company Tencent, artificial intelligence firm SenseTime and the world’s biggest battery maker CATL, to a list of companies it says have ties to China’s military,

The gaming and social media group, which owns ubiquitous Chinese messaging app WeChat, was added to a list of dozens of companies the defence department considers to be working with the Chinese military directly or indirectly,

The US has added several Chinese technology companies, including gaming and social media giant Tencent and battery maker CATL, to a list of businesses it says work with China's military. The list serves as a warning to American companies and organisations about the risks of doing business with Chinese entities.