ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), China’s leading memory chip manufacturer, has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense challenging its designation as a Chinese military company. The company, which specializes in producing dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) chips used in consumer electronics and commercial applications, seeks to have its name removed from the Pentagon’s list of firms alleged to support Beijing’s military.
The lawsuit, submitted on Friday to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, disputes the Defense Department’s decision to classify CXMT under this designation, a move initially made in January 2025 during the Biden administration and maintained under the Trump administration. CXMT contends that the designation is unfounded, lacks sufficient evidence, and infringes on the company’s due process rights.
According to the complaint, CXMT is not affiliated with the Chinese military and focuses exclusively on civil and commercial product markets rather than military customers. The company emphasizes that its DRAM chips are widely used in smartphones, personal computers, servers, and artificial intelligence systems, underscoring its role as a civilian technology provider.
The suit names Department of Defense officials including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Deputy Defence Secretary Steve Feinberg, and Assistant Secretary of Defence for Industrial Base Policy Michael Cadenazzi as defendants. CXMT’s legal action contends that the Pentagon’s classification is “arbitrary” and seeks to overturn the designation to avoid potential restrictions on government contracts as well as reputational harm.
The Pentagon’s list of Chinese companies identified as supporting the country’s military has broader implications, often leading to limitations on dealings with U.S. firms and complicating access to American markets. CXMT has expressed ambitions to expand its presence in the United States in the long term, a goal potentially hindered by the current classification.
The Defense Department has not publicly commented on the lawsuit. Meanwhile, CXMT’s challenge marks a significant step in the ongoing tensions surrounding technology companies caught in geopolitical disputes between the United States and China.