ChangXin Memory Technologies, China’s top memory-chip maker, sued the Pentagon (U.S. Defense Department) on Aug. 28 over its designation as a Chinese military company. CXMT says it is not affiliated with China’s military and makes DRAM (dynamic random-access memory) chips for civilian and commercial use. The company is seeking removal from the Pentagon list, which can trigger government-contracting restrictions and reputational damage. CXMT said the designation was arbitrary, unsupported by evidence and inconsistent with due-process rights. The company said it spent more than a year providing information to challenge the listing, and that the Pentagon published and withdrew a notice in February saying CXMT would be removed. The lawsuit names Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy Michael Cadenazzi as defendants. CXMT’s revenue rose 874% in the first half, and Reuters has reported that the company hopes to enter the U.S. market over the long term. The case follows similar challenges by Alibaba and Xiaomi, with Xiaomi removed from the list in 2021 after suing in a U.S. court.