The U.S. Department of Defense Identifies Chinese Maritime Companies Operating in the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Defense released a “Notice of Chinese military companies operating in the United States” on January 7, 2025. Among the list of identified entities were three prominent maritime companies: Cosco Shipping Holdings Co., China State Shipbuilding Corp., and China Shipbuilding Trading Co. These companies were designated as “Chinese military companies” in accordance with the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021.

In response to this designation, COSCO Shipping issued a statement asserting their compliance with local laws and regulations in their global operations. They emphasized their commitment to serving global trade and customers, including providing shipping and logistics services to various industries in the United States. COSCO Shipping maintained that the three companies mentioned are not affiliated with the Chinese military and expressed intent to engage with relevant U.S. authorities to clarify the situation.

It is important to note that the inclusion of these companies in the list does not imply sanctions or restrictions on their business activities. COSCO Shipping reassured that their global operations will remain unaffected by this designation.