By Michael Martina, David Shepardson and Karen Freifeld WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Defense Department said on Monday it has added Chinese tech giant Tencent Holdings and battery maker CA

The U.S. Defense Department has added major Chinese technology companies including gaming and technology company Tencent, artificial intelligence firm SenseTime and the world’s biggest battery maker CATL to its list of companies it says have ties to China’s military.

The United States has labeled additional Chinese tech and social media firms as Beijing military companies, including multimedia firm Tencent and battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology, better known as CATL.

The U.S. Defense Department has updated its list of Chinese companies allegedly linked to the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The most notable new names on the list are memory maker Changxin Memory Technologies (CXMT), battery maker CATL, and cloud and gaming giant Tencent, reports Nikkei.

The US Defense Department has added Chinese tech companies Tencent, a social media and gaming giant, and CATL, the world’s largest battery maker, to a list of firms that it alleges work with China’s military.

The Pentagon on Tuesday added Tesla battery-maker Contemporary Amperex Technology, or CATL, and internet and gaming giant Tencent Holdings to its list of companies it says have ties to the Chinese military.

The Pentagon has added five Chinese companies including Shenzhen-based tech giant Tencent and the world's biggest battery maker CATL to a list of mainland firms that Washington believes pose threats to US national security.

Tensions between the United States and China have escalated after Washington added two major Chinese companies to its list of entities connected to the Chinese military. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) named tech giant Tencent,