US officials have already banned the use of Chinese-made video surveillance systems, as well as telecommunications equipment manufactured by Huawei and ZTE, due to concerns about leaking information to Chinese intelligence services. The next step will be to ban the use of Chinese-made overhead cranes in US ports.According to the news serviced by Business Korea, 80 percent of port cranes in the United States belong to China-based Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC). US authorities fear that built-in cameras and sensors in advanced Chinese-made cranes could be used to transmit sensitive information to Chinese authorities.
Allegations of espionage with cranes
The cranes are said to contain sensors that can track containers and predict their destination. US officials are currently working on banning the use of foreign cranes in the country’s ports. Meanwhile, it should be noted that South Korea has taken a similar step. Because 48.7 percent of the cranes in the ports of the country are of Chinese origin. It will be mandatory for port operators to use domestic cranes.
In South Korea, the National Intelligence Service is investigating the matter. Authorities are in the process of evaluating the effects of this situation on the country’s economy and security. The outcome of the investigation will be known in the first half of this year.
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