US Briefly Names Alibaba, Baidu as Firms Aiding China’s Military
Watch on YouTube ↗  |  February 15, 2026 at 15:43 UTC  |  3:20  |  Bloomberg Markets
Speakers
Nat — Reporter
Carol — Anchor

Summary

  • The US Pentagon has added Alibaba (BABA) and Baidu (BIDU) to the "1260H list," designating them as companies aiding China's military.
  • While the designation carries no immediate legal sanctions, it serves as a formal warning to investors and is often a precursor to future restrictions.
  • There is some confusion regarding the listing ("mystery"), with reports of a letter asking for the notice to be withdrawn, but the Pentagon has not confirmed a retraction.
  • Historical precedent suggests significant downside risk; when Tencent (TCEHY) was added to this list a year ago, its shares fell "precipitously."
Trade Ideas
Ticker Direction Speaker Thesis Time
SHORT Nat "The US is singling these companies out because it believes... [they are] providing some sort of support... to China's military." This designation acts as a "red line" for institutional capital. Even without immediate sanctions, the "warning to investors" creates a toxicity premium. The speaker notes that when Tencent was added to this list previously, shares fell "precipitously." SHORT or AVOID. The geopolitical overhang and "national security risk" label will force US-based funds to de-risk, driving price compression. The reporter notes they are "trying to get to the bottom of this mystery" and there was a request to withdraw the notice. If the designation is officially retracted/corrected, shares would likely squeeze higher.
WATCH Nat "Tencent... has already been designated by the Pentagon on the list a year ago. And you'll remember we saw shares... fall precipitously." Tencent serves as the historical playbook for how the market reacts to the 1260H list. It is the lead indicator for sentiment in the sector regarding military affiliation. WATCH. Use TCEHY's price action as a gauge for how much "military risk" is already priced into the broader Chinese tech sector versus how much is specific to the new additions (BABA/BIDU). Sector-wide sell-off could drag TCEHY down in sympathy, even though it was already listed. 1:03