WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN), Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security Chairman Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), and Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) sent a letter to Acting U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, requesting information on the Coast Guard’s actions to mitigate risks posed by a state-owned enterprise from the People’s Republic of China (PRC), COSCO SHIPPING, and its operations within the U.S. Maritime Transportation System. The Chairmen are joined on the letter by Representative Dusty Johnson (R-SD). Read the full letter here.
 
COSCO SHIPPING was recently designated by the Department of Defense (DoD) as a Chinese Military Company in the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act of 2021. The designation identifies the company as a key contributor to the PRC defense industrial base and an integral part of advancing China’s military-civil fusion strategy. Among other requests, the members ask what specific protocols the Coast Guard has in place to screen and vet foreign mariners and vessels, particularly those from China and other adversarial countries.

Read more from Philip Lenczycki via the Daily Caller.

In the letter, the members write, “We write to raise significant concerns about the national security risks posed by state-owned enterprises from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) operating within the U.S. Marine Transportation System (MTS). Notably, China COSCO SHIPPING Corporation Limited, COSCO SHIPPING (North America) Inc., and Cosco SHIPPING Finance Co., Ltd. (collectively, “COSCO SHIPPING”), were recently added to the Department of Defense’s list of Chinese Military Companies pursuant to Section 1260H of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2021.This designation identifies these entities as contributors to the PRC’s defense industrial base, while underscoring COSCO SHIPPING’s integral role as a key facilitator in advancing the PRC’s military-civil fusion strategy.”
 
The members continue, “Given the PRC’s track record of exploiting commercial assets for intelligence and military purposes, COSCO SHIPPING’s expansive operations at major U.S. ports present significant national security concerns, including espionage, cyber intrusions, sabotage, and supply chain disruptions. These concerns are amplified by COSCO SHIPPING’s substantial control over global container traffic and its proximity to U.S. critical infrastructure. Moreover, if public reports are accurate, COSCO SHIPPING vessels, like many other PRC state-owned merchant ships, frequently have Chinese Communist Party (CCP) political commissars embedded amongst their crews, further demonstrating the CCP’s direct influence over these operations. The company’s documented ties to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), which, in part, warranted its inclusion on the Department of Defense’s Section 1260H list, only compounds the potential threats to the United States. Permitting vessels and personnel affiliated with COSCO SHIPPING to operate within U.S. ports without adequate safeguards exposes the nation to unacceptable risks, particularly during times of increased geopolitical tension.”
 
The members conclude, “As the lead federal agency for maritime security, the U.S. Coast Guard must take decisive action to mitigate these risks. Achieving this goal will require a thorough assessment and strengthening of current USCG protocols for screening vessels, owners, and crew members associated with COSCO SHIPPING and other entities linked to the PLA or the PRC’s security and intelligence services. The USCG must prioritize the integration of both classified and unclassified intelligence, strengthen interagency coordination and collaboration, and leverage advanced technological solutions to enhance its ability to detect and deter emerging threats.”
 
Background:
 
In the 118th Congress, the Committee on Homeland Security worked to ensure the security of U.S. ports, particularly from threats from the CCP. This remains a priority for Chairman Green and Subcommittee Chairman Gimenez
  
In September 2024, Chairmen Green and Gimenez joined Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) in releasing a joint investigative report exposing a rising threat to U.S. economic and homeland security posed by China-made ship-to-shore port cranes. Read the full report here.
 
In April 2024, the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security and the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a joint field hearing in Miami to examine port security.
 
In February 2024, the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security held a hearing to examine security vulnerabilities at U.S. maritime ports amid increased cybersecurity threats from China. At the hearing, testimony was provided by officials from the Coast Guard Cyber Command, the United States Transportation Command, and the Department of Homeland Security. 

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