Business · Singapore Bureau
US alleges China uses COSCO vessels for surveillance operations
American officials have raised concerns that the Chinese state-owned shipping company COSCO is conducting espionage activities through its expanding global fleet. The allegations centre on alleged surveillance of military communications and monitoring of critical international shipping lanes.
LSN Singapore ·
US government representatives have accused COSCO, China's largest shipping company, of facilitating intelligence-gathering operations as it expands its maritime presence worldwide. According to the officials, the company's vessels are being leveraged to monitor sensitive military communications and observe activity along strategically important global trade routes.
The allegations highlight growing Western concerns about the dual-use nature of China's commercial infrastructure, with shipping companies potentially serving broader strategic interests beyond commercial operations. COSCO operates one of the world's largest container shipping fleets and maintains a significant presence in major ports across Asia, Europe and beyond.
The accusations reflect broader tensions between Washington and Beijing over technology, security and economic practices. The US has previously raised concerns about Chinese investment in port infrastructure and access to sensitive maritime chokepoints, particularly in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean region.
Singapore, as a major global shipping hub and strategic port, sits at the intersection of these concerns about maritime security and freedom of navigation in the region. The allegations underscore ongoing international debates about balancing commercial engagement with China against security considerations in critical infrastructure sectors.