'US Suspected of Spy Tools, Removing Chinese Cranes from Ports'

Biden Plans to Sign Executive Order

The United States is effectively phasing out Chinese-made port cranes, which could be used as 'spy tools' at domestic ports. As the cybersecurity threat from Chinese cranes grows, the U.S. plans to implement protective measures and invest billions of dollars to replace them with domestically produced cranes.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

A U.S. administration official stated during a briefing on the 21st (local time) that President Joe Biden plans to sign an executive order granting the Coast Guard the authority needed to protect the maritime transportation system from cyber threats.

The official specifically identified STS cranes manufactured in China as a cybersecurity vulnerability. Nearly 80% of the cranes used at U.S. ports are Chinese-made, and cybersecurity threat assessments have been conducted on 92 of the more than 200 Chinese cranes, representing 50% of them.

"These cranes are designed to be remotely controlled, serviced, and programmed," the official said. "Because of these characteristics, Chinese-made cranes may be vulnerable to misuse." He added, "Disruptions to the maritime transportation system could cause cascading impacts on the U.S. domestic and global supply chains."

He emphasized that ports and related facilities play a critical role in the national economy and security, making it essential to protect them from cyber threats.

Additionally, the Biden administration plans to invest more than $20 billion over the next five years, including billions of dollars to manufacture domestic cranes.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.