In a recent development, the U.S. Congress has approved a crucial measure aimed at protecting the country’s military supply chain. The measure prohibits the Pentagon from using seaports worldwide that rely on the Chinese logistics platform LOGINK. Senators Tom Cotton and Representative Michelle Steel raised concerns about LOGINK, stating that it allows Beijing to monitor America’s military supply chain by tracking cargo and ship movements through commercial ports.
The amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal 2024, passed on December 14, also restricts federal funding for ports using LOGINK. The bill is set to take effect six months after President Joe Biden signs the NDAA, pending approval. Representative Steel emphasized the severity of the threat posed by LOGINK, operating under the Chinese Communist Party, and expressed concerns about Beijing’s investments in over 100 ports across 60 nations.
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) highlighted that LOGINK’s visibility into global shipping and supply chains could expose U.S. supply chain vulnerabilities and track shipments of U.S. military cargo. The Pentagon’s U.S. Transportation Command acknowledged China’s visibility into global logistics through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative.
LOGINK collaborates with over 20 ports globally, including ports in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Europe, and the Middle East. Despite the absence of LOGINK port contracts in the U.S., the USCC 2022 report revealed that Beijing subsidizes this cost-free platform. Under the NDAA, Congress is now mandated to commission a study on how foreign influence in the 15 largest American container ports could affect national and economic security.
Ivan Kanapathy, a former National Security Council director, highlighted the national security risk posed by Chinese companies operating ports in the U.S. He noted that the legislation will likely spur policies to counter this risk. The Chinese Embassy referred inquiries to China’s General Administration of Customs, which did not respond to VOA’s email inquiries.
USCC member Michael Wessel hailed the legislation as a major step to address the LOGINK threat, emphasizing the need for an alternative. Gabe Collins, a fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute, pointed out the absence of a viable alternative to LOGINK on its scale, estimating that it gathers data on up to half of global shipping capacity.
The U.S. ban signals the need for an alternative and requires negotiations with allies and partners to remove LOGINK from their ports. The International Association of Ports and Harbors is yet to determine its members’ response to the new legislation. Randall Schriver, former assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, revealed European leaders’ unawareness of LOGINK’s monitoring capacity, emphasizing the need for thorough consideration of such matters.
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