World · Singapore Bureau
US officials allege COSCO ships equipped with surveillance technology
United States officials have accused China's state-owned shipping firm COSCO of deploying concealed surveillance equipment aboard its vessels to monitor military communications near targeted coastlines. The allegation raises fresh concerns about China's intelligence-gathering operations in international waters.
LSN Singapore ·
Two senior Trump administration officials claimed that COSCO, one of the world's largest container shipping companies, has installed hidden equipment on its fleet to intercept military signals near the coasts of multiple nations, including the United States.
The officials did not disclose specific details about the surveillance technology or provide evidence of the alleged operations. However, the assertion underscores longstanding Western concerns about dual-use civilian infrastructure being repurposed for intelligence purposes by Chinese state entities.
COSCO operates one of the world's most extensive shipping networks, calling regularly at ports across Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas. The company's ubiquitous presence in global trade routes has previously drawn scrutiny from defence and intelligence analysts in several countries.
The allegations come amid escalating US-China tensions over technology, trade and national security. Beijing has not yet responded to the claims. Singapore and other regional economies depend heavily on freedom of navigation and unimpeded shipping operations, making developments affecting maritime security a matter of regional concern.