Congressional probe finds comms device on Chinese cranes in US ports, raising security concerns

A congressional probe has discovered communications equipment built into Chinese-made cranes used at U.S. ports that pose a potential threat to U.S. security, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The equipment is reportedly remote-access cellular modems on cranes made by ZPMC, a Chinese manufacturer, which supplies about 80% of cranes at U.S. ports.

In addition, such modems are sometimes installed on cranes to track operations and maintenance, but the aforementioned  ones reportedly had not been requested by the ports that use them.

Tennessee GOP Rep. Mark Green, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, told the newspaper the Chinese government “is looking for every opportunity to collect valuable intelligence and position themselves to exploit vulnerabilities by systematically burrowing into America’s critical infrastructure, including in the maritime sector."

A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., dismissed the concerns as “entirely paranoia” designed “to obstruct normal economic and trade cooperation, according to The Daily Beast.