The United States government has added Chinese start-up Zhipu AI and its subsidiaries to its export blacklist, known as the Entity List, citing support for Beijing’s military advancements.

This decision is part of a series of trade restrictions announced by the US Department of Commerce on Thursday.

The Entity List prevents blacklisted companies from purchasing technology from US businesses without special government approval.

Alongside Zhipu AI, 25 other China-based companies and two firms in Singapore were also added to the list.

Zhipu AI, based in Beijing, expressed disagreement with the decision, asserting that it lacks a factual basis.

The company saidd that the restrictions are unlikely to significantly affect its operations.