China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited, the country’s largest shipping group, has strongly rejected recent reports by certain media outlets citing two anonymous senior U.S. officials alleging that ships operated by COSCO SHIPPING are equipped with so-called “concealed equipment” to “intercept military communications” for the purpose of “intelligence-collection.”
“These allegations are totally unfounded, and we firmly oppose such false claims,” the Shanghai-based enterprise said in a statement on Thursday.
The company said it has always adhered to market‑oriented operations and compliance practices across all its global businesses, and remains committed to providing reliable and efficient shipping and logistics services to customers worldwide.
According to COSCO SHIPPING, all communication, navigation, safety and operational equipment installed on its vessels is used solely for legitimate commercial purposes, including navigation safety, ship-to-shore communications and emergency response.
None of the onboard equipment is used to intercept military communications or gather intelligence as alleged in the report, it added.
The Chinese shipping giant said it strongly opposes any acts that try to undermine its corporate brand and hinder its global operations through the dissemination of false or misleading information, and reserves all legal rights to protect its corporate reputation and legitimate interests.
