Washington: A bipartisan group of US lawmakers asked the Pentagon on Thursday to name companies owned by the Chinese military operating in the United States in an attempt to curb Beijing's effort to "steal" technology for military purposes.

Companies owned by the Chinese government "acquire American firms to transfer proprietary information," among other tactics, said the group of Democratic and Republican senators and representatives, including US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, in a letter to Defence Secretary Mark Esper.

The Chinese embassy did not immediately respond to request for comment.

A Pentagon report in 2018 said China dominates the global supply of rare earth minerals critical to US military operations, as well as supplies of electronics and chemicals.