Last Update: March 06, 2023, 18:38 IST
Washington, United States
In an aerial view, cranes stand at the Port of Oakland on March 02, 2023 in Oakland, California. (AFP)
These cranes, with sophisticated sensors, can register and trace the origin and destination of containers and capture information about materials shipped overseas
Since US shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon In January, concerns are growing over Beijing’s surveillance techniques over its airspace.
US officials have now raised concerns over the possibility of a ‘new tool’ being used by Beijing for espionage – Chinese-made cranes operating at US ports.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Pentagon officials suspect cranes operating at US ports, including many used by the military, are being used by Chinese manufacturer ZPMC to record sensitive information .
The report said national security and Pentagon officials compared the ship-to-shore crane made by the Chinese company to a Trojan horse.
The cranes have sophisticated sensors that can register and trace the origin and destination of containers, raising concerns that Beijing could mine information about materials being shipped in and out of the country to support overseas US military operations. can get
Not only are the cranes operated by Chinese-made software, but in some cases, they are also manned by Chinese nationals working on two-year visas. The report states that these factors could be possible avenues through which intelligence could be gathered.
A former US counterintelligence official said the crane could be used to provide remote access to someone trying to disrupt the flow of goods.
“Cranes could be the new Huawei. It’s the right combination of legitimate business that can also masquerade as covert intelligence collection,” said Bill Evanina, a former top US counterintelligence official, referring to Huawei Technologies Co., which makes equipment. was banned after warnings that it could be used to spy on Americans.
However, a representative of the Chinese embassy in the US described concerns about the cranes as a “paranoia-driven” attempt to hinder trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
The news comes amid reports of China not only using spy balloons but also operating police stations around the worldincluding America.
US officials have also expressed concern over China’s increasing control of ports around the world through strategic investments. It also builds the world’s new shipping containers and controls the shipping-data service.
ZPMC cranes entered the US market about two decades ago and are said to have good quality cranes and are cheaper than western suppliers.
Currently, the Chinese firm controls about 70 percent of the global market for cranes and has sold its products to more than 100 countries.
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