Overview
- U.S. officials speaking to Reuters on Tuesday said COSCO, the state-owned Chinese shipping giant, has long placed concealed signals‑intelligence systems on commercial vessels to collect military communications near target coastlines.
- The officials described the platforms as sophisticated signals‑intelligence gear rather than routine ship communications but did not publicly show technical evidence to verify the claims.
- China’s embassy in Washington called the accusations baseless and said it would never ask companies to collect intelligence abroad, while COSCO did not publicly respond to requests for comment.
- COSCO remains deeply tied into U.S. ports and supply chains and was placed on a Pentagon list linking it to China’s military in January 2025, a status that bars some U.S. procurement but is not full sanctions.
- The allegation builds on a 2025 U.S. Naval War College finding and China’s national intelligence law that can compel firms to assist state intelligence; it could affect choices by regulators and the White House over port fees, Federal Maritime Commission reviews, and trade arrangements.