House Republicans question Chinese-made equipment at US ports citing supply-chain risk

NextGov’s David DiMolfetta covers a congressional investigation led by House Republicans has uncovered significant cybersecurity and espionage risks associated with Chinese-made technology in U.S. ports. The probe focused on equipment from Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC), uncovering the “open secret” among port operators that ZMPC would “pressure” clients for remote access to systems.

From the article: “The purported monitoring activity was linked to modems in the crane equipment, which could apparently enable a covert method to gather data, evade firewalls and interfere with port activities. Technicians at the ports were aware of these modems and believed them to be used for diagnostic purposes, but the modems themselves were not part of any existing contract.”

The report also scrutinized ZPMC's partnership with ABB, a Swiss firm with US defense contracts. While ZPMC and the Chinese embassy denied the allegations, the findings underscore the challenges faced by port operators in balancing cost-effectiveness with security concerns. The House investigation follows President Biden's executive order to enhance cybersecurity in port infrastructure, highlighting the growing importance of maritime cybersecurity in national defense strategies.