Pentagon fears China is using cranes to spy on US military

THE Pentagon is investigating whether China is using construction cranes at ports in the United States as a “trojan horse” to spy on the US military.

Chinese-made, ship-to-shore cranes contain sensors that can register and track containers, which the Pentagon fears could help Beijing obtain information on the movement of cargo in or out of the country to support US military operations around the world.

“Cranes can be the new Huawei,” Bill Evanina, a former US counterintelligence official, told The Wall Street Journal, referring to the Chinese telecom company, whose equipment US officials have effectively banned after warning that it could be used to spy on Americans. Huawei has denied its products are a security risk.

“It’s the perfect combination of legitimate business that can also masquerade as clandestine intelligence collection,” Mr Evanina said.

In recent years, a handful of Chinese crane firms have grown into major players in the global automated-ports industry, working with Microsoft and other companies to connect equipment and analyse data in real time. One US official told the newspaper that one such firm – Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC) – made nearly 80 per cent of all the ship-to-shore cranes at US ports.

They highlighted the potential for the cranes to also disrupt the flow of goods. Representatives of ZPMC did not respond to requests for comment.

A Chinese embassy spokesman in Washington called the US concerns about the cranes a “paranoia-driven” attempt to obstruct trade and economic co-operation with Beijing.

Representative Carlos Giménez of Florida introduced legislation to ban future US purchases of Chinese cranes and encourage other manufacturers.

The congressman, a former mayor of Miami Dade County, whose port has some Zpmc-made cranes, said he proposed the legislation when he became aware that the software on ZPMC cranes could be used for nefarious purposes.

♦ The Philippines has accused China of “harassment” after a Chinese naval ship neared a contested island in the South China Sea. The coast guard on Saturday said that 42 ships, believed to be part of China’s maritime militia, had been seen close to Thitu Island, also known as Pagasa, which is Philippine-administered territory in the contested Spratly archipelago.