Washington, DC [US], March 17 (ANI): Two Republican lawmakers in the United States have introduced legislation aimed at preventing Chinese-linked entities from accessing sensitive transportation contracts tied to American military logistics.
The proposal comes amid growing concerns in Washington over potential espionage risks associated with Chinese involvement in critical supply chains. Senator Tom Cotton and Representative Elise Stefanik introduced the bipartisan legislation on March 12 in both chambers of Congress.
The bill, titled the Trucking Security and CCP Disclosure Act, seeks to bar companies linked to China from securing contracts related to US defense transportation, The Epoch Times reported.
The legislation would also prohibit Chinese nationals from operating trucks transporting cargo for the US Department of Defense.
Cotton warned that adversarial powers could gather intelligence on American defense technologies by exploiting vulnerabilities in military logistics operations.
If enacted, the measure would require the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to work with the Pentagon to establish a Secure Defense Freight Carrier Registry.
Only trucking firms that undergo enhanced national security vetting would be eligible to transport defense-related freight. Under the proposed framework, carriers, including contractors and subcontractors, would be barred from bidding on Pentagon transportation contracts unless they are listed in the registry.
The screening process would examine ownership structures and business ties to companies included on the Pentagon’s blacklist of Chinese military-linked firms operating in or connected to the United States.
The blacklist, updated in January 2025, includes major Chinese corporations such as Aviation Industry Corp. of China, China COSCO Shipping Corp., and China Mobile Communications Group.
The bill would also require drivers and personnel handling military cargo to meet security standards comparable to the Transportation Worker Identification Credential program administered by the Transportation Security Administration.
Stefanik said many Americans would be surprised that current laws do not explicitly prohibit Chinese military-linked entities from obtaining defense-related transport contracts.
She added that the proposed legislation would create a stronger barrier between Beijing and critical US defense logistics networks.
Meanwhile, a 2025 assessment by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association warned that Chinese technology integrated into logistics systems could expose sensitive operational data.
The report also highlighted cyber espionage threats posed by China-linked hacking groups such as Salt Typhoon and Volt Typhoon, which have previously targeted infrastructure networks, according to The Epoch Times. (ANI)
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