A chilling discovery has emerged from a congressional investigation into Chinese-built cargo cranes operating at US ports. These seemingly innocuous machines are now shrouded in suspicion, harboring communication equipment that raises serious national security concerns.
Investigators found unexpected components nestled within the cranes - cellular modems with the potential for remote access. This revelation, previously unreported, fuels anxieties about potential espionage and disruption within America's critical port infrastructure.
The Pentagon and intelligence agencies have been increasingly troubled by the potential threat posed by these giant cranes, manufactured by China-based ZPMC. ZPMC dominates the US market, with their cranes accounting for nearly 80% of ship-to-shore operations.
"The Chinese government is systematically burrowing into America's critical infrastructure," declares Congressman Mark Green (R-TN), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. This committee, in conjunction with the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, is spearheading an investigation into Chinese maritime security threats, set to conclude next month.
The investigation yielded a disturbing number of cellular modems. Over a dozen were discovered on crane components at a single port, with another found lurking within the server room of another port. Even more concerning, some modems exhibited active connections to operational elements of the cranes.
While crane operators sometimes utilize modems for remote monitoring and maintenance, the situation here seems far from routine. According to investigators and documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, some ports using ZPMC equipment were completely unaware of, or hadn't requested, the additional modem functionality.
State-owned ZPMC remains silent on the matter. Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in Washington dismisses the security concerns as "entirely paranoia." However, the US government is taking proactive measures. The Biden administration has pledged over $20 billion to replace foreign-built cranes with American-made counterparts. This initiative aims to establish the first domestic option for ports in 30 years, with funding supporting the construction of cranes by a US subsidiary of Japan's Mitsui.
The focus on cranes extends beyond these individual machines, highlighting a broader issue - maritime cybersecurity. Fears are escalating that Chinese hackers are strategically positioning themselves to disrupt critical US infrastructure during potential conflict scenarios, such as a military confrontation over Taiwan.
This newfound scrutiny surrounding cranes and maritime security is acting as a "wake-up call" for many Western nations, according to Finland's minister of economic affairs, Wille Rydman. Finland, a recent addition to NATO, is actively expanding its global maritime market share as concerns over Chinese technology supply chains reach a fever pitch.
US administration officials express concerns about inherent security vulnerabilities within the Chinese cranes. Rear Admiral John Vann, leading the Coast Guard cyber command, emphasizes the existence of "openings, vulnerabilities, that are there by design." However, he highlights the absence of any detected malware or malicious software.
The American Association of Port Authorities acknowledges the lack of reported security breaches linked to the cranes. The group advocates for domestic crane production but warns against immediate removal of existing Chinese models. Such action, they argue, would disrupt supply chains and ultimately burden consumers with higher prices.
A partially redacted December letter from an unidentified US port operator, obtained by The Wall Street Journal, sheds further light on the situation. The letter confirms the presence of unauthorized modems on the cranes, installed around the time of manufacture in 2017. These modems, intended for a "mobile diagnostic and monitoring" service the port never requested, were ultimately removed last October. The reason behind the port's action remains unknown.
The discovery of these hidden communication channels throws a wrench into US-China relations and raises critical questions about the security of America's vital infrastructure. As the investigation concludes and tensions simmer, one thing is certain: the future of Chinese-built cranes in US ports remains hanging in the balance.
