Spying probe finds comms equipment on Chinese cranes at US ports

Mar 07, 2024

Lauren Taylor Anchor

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), Evan Hummel (Producer), Jake Maslo (Video Editor)

This report was created with support from enhanced software.

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Chinese-made cargo cranes at U.S. ports have sparked concern following a congressional investigation that unveiled potential national security risks, according to The Wall Street Journal. The probe revealed communication equipment on these cranes that doesn’t align with standard operations, prompting worries about possible clandestine data collection. Some of these components include cellular modems capable of remote access.

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Though it’s typical for cranes to feature modems for remote monitoring, it appears that certain U.S. ports utilizing cranes manufactured by China-based ZPMC hadn’t requested this capability. Investigators found over a dozen modems on crane components and another inside a port’s server room.

ZPMC, a state-owned Chinese company, declined to comment on the matter.

Worries regarding ZPMC’s cranes have escalated in recent years, prompting the Biden administration to invest in replacing them with U.S.-manufactured alternatives. This decision comes amid concerns of potential disruption and espionage.

The investigation is focusing on ZPMC and potential threats associated with Chinese-manufactured equipment at U.S. ports.

Tags: China, Infrastructure, Joe Biden, National Security, U.S. Congress

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

CHINESE-MADE CARGO CRANES AT U.S. PORTS ARE RAISING SOME EYEBROWS AFTER A CONGRESSIONAL PROBE FOUND POTENTIAL NATIONAL SECURITY RISKS. THE INVESTIGATION DISCOVERED COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT ON THESE CRANES THAT DOESN’T SUPPORT NORMAL OPERATIONS, RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT POSSIBLE SECRET GATHERING OF SENSITIVE DATA. SOME OF THESE COMPONENTS INCLUDE CELLULAR MODEMS, WHICH COULD BE REMOTELY ACCESSED.

WHILE IT’S COMMON FOR CRANES TO HAVE MODEMS FOR REMOTE MONITORING, IT SEEMS SOME U.S. PORTS USING CRANES MADE BY CHINA-BASED ZPMC DIDN’T REQUEST THIS CAPABILITY. INVESTIGATORS FOUND OVER A DOZEN MODEMS ON CRANE COMPONENTS AND ANOTHER INSIDE A PORT’S SERVER ROOM.

ZPMC, A STATE-OWNED CHINESE COMPANY, DIDN’T RESPOND TO REQUEST FOR COMMENT. CONCERNS ABOUT ZPMC’S CRANES HAVE GROWN IN RECENT YEARS, WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION INVESTING IN REPLACING THEM WITH U.S.-MANUFACTURED ONES. THIS MOVE FOLLOWS FEARS OF POTENTIAL DISRUPTION AND ESPIONAGE.

THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES, FOCUSING ON ZPMC AND POTENTIAL THREATS POSED BY CHINESE-MANUFACTURED EQUIPMENT AT U.S. PORTS.