Concerns of Spying by Chinese Cranes at Port in Virginia

To quote Fred Schwarz, the author of You Can Trust the Communists: Yes, we can; we can trust them to be communists, inveterate liars and deceivers, and, of course, never to be trusted. This begs the question as to why anyone would buy anything from Chinese communists, above all, security-sensitive equipment.

Recently, the arrival of ZPMC ship-to-shore cranes at the Port of Virginia’s Norfolk International Terminals has sparked worries among U.S. defense officials. The Pentagon is scrutinizing approximately 30 Chinese cranes at the port, with an additional five expected for delivery next year.

Manufactured by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co., these cranes, produced by a state-owned company with ties to the China Communications Construction Co., are being viewed as a potential security threat. U.S. defense and national security officials fear China will likely exploit the crane technology to gather intelligence on shipments supporting U.S. military operations.

These cranes are equipped with sensors capable of tracking containers’ origins and destinations, and there are concerns about potential remote access vulnerabilities that could disrupt shipping operations, as reported by Pentagon and national security officials.

This development occurs against a backdrop of escalating U.S. concerns regarding Chinese espionage, exemplified by incidents like the surveillance balloon controversy and the moving of Ford Motor Company’s battery plant linked to a Chinese communist firm.

Operational technology devices like cameras, weight sensors and safety sensors are vital elements integrated into equipment systems. These devices have raised concerns among defense officials regarding ZPMC’s cranes. The potential espionage scenarios are alarming.

For instance, a malicious person could exploit a crane’s camera system to track a container by identifying its serial number and origin. Moreover, the ability to disrupt cargo operations by manipulating safety sensors or generating false readings poses significant security risks. These scenarios should be considered not just possible, but probable, since communist countries are infamous actors in espionage and hacking.

Since 2000, the Port of Virginia has relied on ZPMC cranes, except for the Newport News Marine Terminal’s crane manufactured by Crane Materials International (CMI). Notably, the uniqueness of this new crane in the port raises questions about its operational dynamics, highlighting the significance of crane manufacturers in port infrastructure.

By the end of 2023, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s maritime administrator is mandated to produce an unclassified study in collaboration with the Department of Defense and other entities. This study will assess whether cranes from foreign manufacturers present security risks to American ports, as stipulated in a section of the $850 billion National Defense Authorization Act passed in December 2022.

Amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and China, security concerns have been raised regarding these new cranes. The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson dismissed U.S. concerns as “complete paranoia,” an entirely predictable response from an untrustworthy source. In a separate incident, the U.S. Air Force intercepted a Chinese high-altitude surveillance balloon off the coast of South Carolina tracking the balloon’s movement from Alaska, Canada, Idaho and eventually to the East Coast that began on January 28, 2023.

A bipartisan group of 12 senators, including U.S. Sen. Mark Warner and Sen. John Thune, introduced a bill that empowers the Department of Commerce to review and prohibit transactions involving information and communications technology products with potential security risks. The proposed RESTRICT Act (S.686), could lead to the banning of platforms like TikTok, though the federal government has not banned TikTok yet. As of April 2023, 34 states have either announced or enacted bans on using TikTok by state government agencies, employees and contractors on government-issued devices.

During the Senate Intelligence Committee’s hearing on worldwide threats, Warner emphasized the need for the U.S. to invest in talent, tools and research to stay ahead in emerging technologies. He highlighted China’s increasing role in international technology standards-setting bodies and its integration into global supply chains as reasons for the U.S. to bolster its technological capabilities.

In late February, the Biden administration considered revoking U.S. suppliers’ export licenses for sales to Chinese telecom company Huawei Technologies Co., known for their espionage activities engineered into their communication devices. The federal government had previously banned other Huawei products.

In January, Youngkin withdrew Virginia from consideration for a $3.5 billion Ford Motor Company electric vehicle battery plant due to justifiable concerns about China-based Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd. Ford later decided to establish the plant in Michigan because of the blatant untrustworthiness of the Chinese.

ZPMC dominates about 70 percent of the global market share for large-scale cranes handling port containers and bulk materials. Its cranes are present in 104 countries and make up nearly 80 percent of those used at U.S. ports. The absence of comparable American-made cranes has been highlighted in recent discussions with an alternative from Finnish company Konecranes costing significantly more.

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) promotes U.S. production of port equipment and plans to introduce a bill supporting this initiative at its upcoming summit. Wolski emphasized the importance of port authorities checking systems post-delivery to safeguard against cyber threats, underscoring the vulnerability of computer network-connected systems to potential cyberattacks.

The technological race between the U.S. and China has also extended into the realm of artificial intelligence (AI). In March 2021, President Biden signed an executive order to boost the country’s competitiveness in AI, stating that bold investments in American innovation will ensure our economic strength and national security for decades to come.

Some ports mitigate risks by opting for software from Swiss company ABB Ltd. for the cargo cranes instead of using ZPMC’s software. Harris was unresponsive to a query on the software utilized by the Port of Virginia on its cranes. However, the Port of Virginia seems to be proactively implementing cybersecurity measures around the cranes, as stated by Harris. Prior to commissioning new cranes, they undergo a thorough forensic cyber analysis conducted by a federal law enforcement agency. Cranes awaiting analysis are isolated using dedicated firewalls to prevent interaction with port networks or the internet.

Understanding the Marxist strategy makes it entirely clear that communists in general, especially the CCP and Xi Jinping, cannot be trusted in the global tech domain, let alone reshape the international order. It is incumbent upon Western Civilization; the United States, our allies, partners and kindred spirits, to harness all facets of national influence, including a robust tech sector, to ensure that Xi’s vision of the Chinese Dream sinks in the South China sea never to be heard of again.