Shares of Tencent fall 5% in Hong Kong after U.S. designates it as a Chinese military company

Shares of Chinese tech heavyweight Tencent Holdings tumbled 5.3% in Hong Kong after the company was added to a list of "Chinese military companies" by the U.S. Department of Defense.

The move mirrors the almost 8% fall in Tencent's U.S. depository receipts on Wall Street.

Other Chinese companies added to the list included battery maker CATL, which is part of the supply chain for automakers such as Ford and Tesla.

CATL shares slid 5% in Shenzhen.

Inclusion on the list currently carries no legal ramifications, although the National Defence Authorization Act of 2024

In response to the decision, Tencent said in a statement that its inclusion on the list was "clearly a mistake."

"We are not a military company or supplier. Unlike sanctions or export controls, this listing has no impact on our business," the company added.

CATL also called the designation "a mistake" in a response, saying it "is not engaged in any military related activities."

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