Reuters reports that China’s state-owned shipping giant COSCO has used concealed equipment aboard its vessels for decades to collect signals intelligence for Beijing, according to two senior Trump administration officials. The officials say the systems can collect communications from military aircraft and vessels across North America, Europe and Asia, as well as information on military communications technology, encryption and key maritime routes.
The War Zone adds that China’s 2017 National Intelligence Law requires Chinese organizations and citizens to support state intelligence work when required, while a 2025 U.S. Naval War College study found that China’s civilian maritime sector can support intelligence collection. The Pentagon also placed COSCO on its list of companies linked to China’s military in January 2025, although the designation is not a formal sanction.
The specific equipment and ships involved have not been publicly identified, and China’s embassy in Washington called the allegations “totally baseless.” COSCO did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
Sources:
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinese-shipper-cosco-collects-intel-beijing-with-concealed-equipment-us-2026-09-01/
https://www.twz.com/news-features/chinese-cargo-ships-clandestinely-gather-signals-intelligence-report
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1September 2, 2026 1.7K 6
