Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., chair of the U.S. House Select Committee on China, has asked Ted Leonsis, owner of the Washington Wizards and Capitals, to sever business ties with Alibaba. In a letter, Moolenaar requested confirmation that Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), Leonsis's company, will discontinue any ongoing business relationship with the Chinese tech giant.
The request stems from the U.S. Defense Department's recent designation of Alibaba as a Chinese military company, a move that suggests the corporation supports China's military-civil fusion strategy. Alibaba has initiated legal action to challenge this designation, seeking to have its name removed from the Pentagon's list of 188 entities.
The House committee's inquiry highlights growing concerns among U.S. officials regarding Beijing's efforts to leverage non-state businesses for military purposes. MSE officials have not yet responded to a request for comment.
This is not the first time the House committee has examined sports affiliations with Chinese entities. Previously, the committee sent a letter to the International Olympic Committee expressing concerns about the World Anti-Doping Agency's handling of a doping case involving Chinese swimmers. The committee also raised concerns last year regarding Alibaba's sponsorship deal with the International Olympic Committee and its potential impact on Los Angeles Olympic Games partnerships.
Joseph Tsai, owner of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets and the WNBA's New York Liberty, also has ties to Alibaba, having co-founded the company in 1999. The committee's actions indicate a broader interest in scrutinizing the financial and business relationships between American sports franchises and companies linked to China's strategic interests.