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Snapshot 1:Fri, Sep 13, 2024 7:37:48 PM GMT last edited by Brian

US House Report: Chinese Cranes Pose National Security Threat

Above: Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI) speaks during a news conference following a House Republican Conference meeting at the U.S. Capitol on September 10, 2024 in Washington, DC. Image copyright: Kent Nishimura/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images

The Facts

  • Two US House committees, the Homeland Security Committee and the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), have claimed that Chinese-made cargo cranes are equipped with surveillance technology to spy on Americans and attack US infrastructure.

  • The CCP committee stated that the cranes, which are manufactured by the state-controlled Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co. Ltd. (ZPMC), are equipped with "cellular modems" that are "not requested by U.S. ports or included in contracts."


The Spin

China is the greatest threat to America, which why this committee, with broad bipartisan support from the rest of the House, worked together to pass these bills. As China threatens everything from stealing Americans' biological data and placing surveillance cranes in ports, to flying military drones in American airspace, the US government is taking a stand against this adversarial regime.

The only issue upon which Republicans and Democrats can agree is that China should be portrayed as an enemy. As Pres. Joe Biden publicly promises to be diplomatic with Beijing, his colleagues in both parties are simultaneously holding an entire week's worth of meetings aimed at demonizing China. These political stunts will hurt both the American people and Washington's relationship with Beijing.


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