The Chinese embassy denies accusations of modern threats as irrational fear mongering and charges the accusers of impeding trade relations.
Critics said there is cause for concern.
“We have found, I would say, openings, vulnerabilities, that are there by design,” Rear Adm. John Vann, the head of the Coast Guard’s cyber command, said during congressional testimony last week.
However, Vann said, “What we have not found is instances … of malware or a trojan horse type software.”
The Western Journal received a statement on the subject from the American Association of Port Authorities on Friday.
“Coast Guard Rear Admiral John Vann recently testified under oath that there have been no known security breaches involving port equipment,” AAPA President and CEO Cary Davis said. “Our ports proactively work with the U.S. Coast Guard, other federal law enforcement, and private sector experts to mitigate risks through inspections and defensive measures. This previous incident is actually a positive case study in cyber defense and domain awareness.”
As per a March 2023 Wall Street Journal report, the Trump administration raised concerns regarding the cranes.
Sean Plankey, a former cybersecurity official, clarifies the discussions around “Where and how might an attack occur?” at the National Security Council.
China may be able to disable ports without resorting to violence if it can maintain control over cargo cranes.
“It wouldn’t be hard for an attacker to disable one sensor on a crane and prevent the crane from moving,” Chris Wolski, who formerly ran cybersecurity for the port of Houston, said. “These systems aren’t designed for security, they are designed for operations.”
According to the report, a 2021 assessment by the Defense Intelligence Agency concluded that China might be able to control port traffic or discover what kind of military hardware was passing through ports.
“DIA’s analytic efforts assist the U.S. military in anticipating and mitigating threats to global mobility, which relies in part on commercial transportation and shipping,” DIA spokesman Lt. Col. Dean Carter said.
