The Washington Post: Chinese companies are marketing intelligence that reveals the movements of US forces
An investigative report published by the Washington Post revealed that Chinese private companies have begun marketing accurate and detailed information about the movements and positions of US forces during the ongoing war in Iran, relying on advanced artificial intelligence technologies and open data.
These companies, some of which have close ties to the Chinese military, have succeeded in turning digital space into an open observation field, broadcasting detailed publications widely online about the movements of US aircraft carriers and military aircraft assembly sites ahead of the launch of operations against Tehran.
The war against Iran on Feb. 28 was a real laboratory for Chinese companies — such as MizarVision and Jing’an — that claim to be able to de-cover previously classified sites, including the distribution of aircraft at US military bases in the Middle East, the investigative report said.
Ryan Vidasiuk, a researcher at the American Enterprise Institute, said the deployment of these companies would enhance China’s defense capabilities and its ability to counter US forces in times of crisis.
He added that this development reflects Beijing’s strategy of integrating the civilian sector with defensive military uses.
Hangzhou-based company MizarVision, which is called China’s Silicon Valley, posted photos on Chinese and Western platforms showing US troop buildups in the Middle East on the eve of the launch of Operation Epic Fury, including the passage of aircraft carrier carriers Gerald Ford and Abraham Lincoln.
The company also claims that it monitored a US military escalation prior to the US arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, and that its able to track the transfer of US medium-range missiles in Asia-Pacific in real-time.
Jing’an Technology said it had spotted more than 100 US warships and dozens of planes, and recorded more than 100,000 military movements in a short period, adding in one of its publications that there is no absolute mitigation in the eyes of artificial intelligence.
US officials have expressed doubts about the companies’ ability to hack US stealth communications, but cautioned that the biggest concern lies in the intent.
Analysts say these companies could provide Beijing with a way to help its partners while maintaining an official distance from conflicts
In a statement reflecting official concern, the US House of Representatives’ China Affairs Committee told The Washington Post: “Companies linked to the Chinese Communist Party are turning artificial intelligence into a battlefield surveillance tool against America… The United States cannot allow commercial technology to be turned into real-time intelligence against US forces”.
Beijing has long sought to distance itself from any direct involvement in Iran’s war, but the Washington Post asserts that these companies, many of which have emerged in the past five years as part of the government’s campaign to harness private AI for military use, are investing in this war against Iran.
US officials and intelligence experts are divided on how dangerous these publicly disclosed tools are and whether US adversaries are actually using them, but they see the expansion as indicative of a growing security risk and reflects Beijing’s intention to highlight the strength of its intelligence capabilities.
China has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to support private companies developing artificial intelligence applications with practical defense uses as part of its civil-military integration strategy, and last month announced plans to boost these efforts in a broader five-year national strategy.
Analysts cited by the Washington Post argue that these companies provide Beijing with perfect political cover, allowing it to provide its allies with the necessary intelligence while maintaining sufficient diplomatic distance to avoid direct involvement in the war and appear to be a peacemaker.
“The state can benefit from private sector innovations, while at the same time shirking responsibility, credit or blame for the actions of seemingly private companies, even when they operate under the direction of the state or in close coordination with them,” Vidasiuk said.
Iran is a longtime ally and major oil supplier to China, but Beijing has been careful to avoid getting involved in the war, “in an effort to maintain its image as a peacemaker,” according to the investigative report.
The Washington Post had earlier reported that Russia was providing Iran with information targeting for attacks on US forces in the Middle East, the first such indication that a key US adversary could be actively involved in the war.
