RismadarVoice Reporters, September 1, 2026
Chinese state-owned shipping company COSCO has been accused by US officials of using concealed equipment aboard its vessels to collect intelligence on military communications near the coastlines of several countries, including the United States.
Two senior Trump administration officials told Reuters that COSCO has maintained a decades-long intelligence-gathering relationship with Beijing, allowing China to collect communication signals from ships and aircraft operating across Europe, North America and Asia.
The officials said the equipment allegedly installed on COSCO vessels was designed to gather information on military communication technologies, encryption developments and maritime activities. They described the systems as advanced signals intelligence platforms rather than standard ship communication equipment.
COSCO did not immediately respond to requests for comment, while China’s embassy in Washington rejected the allegations, describing claims of intelligence collection as baseless.
Chinese embassy spokesperson Liu Chang said the Chinese government does not require companies or individuals to collect data or intelligence abroad in violation of local laws.
The allegations come as US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping prepare for a planned summit in Washington later this month, where security and trade issues are expected to be discussed.
The Pentagon added COSCO to a list of companies linked to China’s military in January 2025, a designation that can affect the company’s reputation and government procurement opportunities but does not impose formal sanctions.
A 2025 report by the US Naval War College said China’s military may be using commercial shipping and fishing fleets for intelligence and surveillance activities.
Despite security concerns, COSCO remains one of the world’s largest shipping companies and continues to operate at US ports through container services and terminal partnerships.
Experts said removing COSCO from global supply chains would be difficult because of the company’s significant role in international trade networks.
