BEIJING, Sept 4 – China’s state-owned shipping company, COSCO, has denied allegations that it used hidden equipment on its ships to gather intelligence for the Chinese government. The company described the claims as “totally unfounded” and false.
According to a report by Reuters, which cited two senior officials from the Trump administration, COSCO used this equipment to spy on military communications near the coastlines of various countries, including the United States.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed that COSCO has had a long-standing partnership with Beijing to collect intelligence, allowing China to intercept communication signals from ships and aircraft operating in Europe, North America, and Asia.
In response, COSCO stated, "We have always focused on market-oriented operations and compliance throughout our global business.”
The company added, "All communication, navigation, safety, and operational equipment on our vessels is used strictly for legitimate business purposes, including navigation safety, ship-to-shore communications, and emergency responses."
Furthermore, COSCO maintained that none of the equipment on its ships is used for intercepting military communications or gathering intelligence.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Washington on September 24 for discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump, although the official date of this trip has not yet been confirmed by Beijing.
This summit is anticipated to address a range of important security and trade issues.
China's embassy in Washington has previously stated that Beijing would never instruct any company or individual to collect or share data, information, or intelligence from abroad that goes against local laws.