Archive · 1 Sep 2026
U.S. Officials Accuse COSCO Ships of Concealed Military Spying
Two U.S. officials say COSCO ships may carry hidden equipment that listens to military communications.
They say the equipment can also study encryption and watch important sea routes.
The officials believe COSCO and the Chinese government have worked together on intelligence collection for decades.
They say China could use the information in territorial disputes and to watch foreign military activity.
The officials did not say exactly what the equipment looks like.
China’s embassy strongly denies the accusation and calls it baseless.
COSCO did not answer Reuters’ request for comment.
The Pentagon listed COSCO as linked to China’s military in January 2025.
Experts say removing COSCO from U.S. trade networks could seriously disrupt commerce.
Two senior Trump administration officials allege COSCO ships carry concealed equipment to monitor military communications near foreign coastlines, including the U.S.
The officials say the platforms can collect signals, study military communications technologies and encryption, and track shipping lanes and maritime routes.
They describe a decades-long intelligence partnership between COSCO and Beijing, while a U.S. Naval War College report cited similar concerns about Chinese commercial fleets.
China’s embassy called the allegations baseless and denied Beijing asks companies to collect intelligence abroad illegally; COSCO did not comment.
COSCO remains deeply integrated into U.S. trade, and experts warn removing it could severely disrupt supply and transportation networks.
- Who
- Two senior Trump administration officials made the allegations; China’s embassy rejected them, and COSCO did not comment.
- What
- The officials allege that COSCO ships use concealed signals-intelligence platforms to collect military communications and monitor maritime activity.
- When
- The Reuters report was published September 1; related U.S. designations and assessments cited in the articles date to January and April 2025.
- Where
- The alleged activity concerns coastlines and maritime regions across Europe, North America and Asia, including near the United States.
- Why
- The officials say the information could support China’s territorial claims, maritime reconnaissance and early warnings about foreign military targets.
U.S. Security Allegations
China’s Rejection
Concealed intelligence equipment
U.S. Security Allegations
Two senior U.S. officials allege that COSCO ships carry sophisticated signals-intelligence platforms rather than ordinary communications hardware.
China’s Rejection
China’s embassy says the intelligence-collection narrative is an attempt to vilify China and is totally baseless.
Government-shipping ties
U.S. Security Allegations
The officials describe a decades-long intelligence partnership between COSCO and Beijing, while a U.S. Naval War College report cited likely use of Chinese commercial fleets for intelligence and surveillance.
China’s Rejection
China’s embassy says the Chinese government would never ask a company or individual to collect or provide data abroad in violation of local laws.
Potential U.S. response
U.S. Security Allegations
The allegations and COSCO’s Pentagon designation raise security concerns for the U.S. government.
China’s Rejection
Maritime strategist Isaac Kardon says removing COSCO from U.S. supply chains and transportation networks could severely disrupt U.S. trade.
- Alleged equipment
- Sophisticated signals-intelligence collection platforms, according to the U.S. officials.
- Information allegedly collected
- Communication signals, military communications technologies, encryption developments, shipping lanes and maritime-route data.
- Alleged relationship
- The officials describe a decades-long intelligence-collection partnership between COSCO and Beijing.
- U.S. Naval War College report
- A report published in April 2025 said China’s military likely harnesses fishing and commercial shipping fleets for intelligence and surveillance.
- Pentagon designation
- The Pentagon listed COSCO as linked to China’s military in January 2025; the designation does not impose formal sanctions.
- Chinese response
- China’s embassy said the allegations were totally baseless and denied that Beijing directs companies to collect data abroad against local laws.
- Trade exposure
- COSCO remains a major shipping company calling at U.S. ports and operates several terminal-service joint ventures there.
