Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 20 May 2019

APNewsBreak: Schumer calls for probe of Chinese rail tech

Sen. Charles Schumer of the subway system, said that work," spokesman Max
New York said in a state- CRRC had proposed in- Young said.
ment to The Associated vesting $50 million of its own A spokesman for CRRC Si-
Press on Sunday that he's money to develop the new fang America — the com-
asked the Commerce De- subway cars. The contest pany's arm in Chicago —
partment to conduct a was designed to bring out said a majority of the com-
"top-to-bottom review" af- new ideas for future proj- ponents used in its new rail
ter CRRC, one of the world's ects but did not lead to any cars come from U.S. com-
largest train makers, won contracts for new subway panies and said concerns
a design contest for new cars and the MTA is not cur- about spying or malware
subway cars that would in- rently purchasing any new are misplaced. The rail cars
clude "modern train control cars. meet specific requirements
technology." But in the last few years, set by the transit agencies,
The company hasn't won a China has pushed to domi- the manufacturer doesn't
contract in New York City, nate the U.S. rail car market, control the cyber compo-
which has America's big- a multibillion-dollar industry. nents it installs and it is "not
In this May 14, 2019 photo, Senate Minority Leader Chuck
Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks to reporters at the Capitol in Washing- gest transit system, but it CRRC is also believed to be possible" for the company
ton. has been awarded con- pursuing a $500 million con- to implant malware in the
Associated Press tracts in recent years for tract with the Washington system, he said.
new subway cars in Los Metropolitan Area Transit "There is no evidence of a
By MICHAEL BALSAMO vestigate whether a plan Angeles, Chicago, Boston Authority in Washington, passenger railcar manu-
Associated Press for new subway cars in and Philadelphia. D.C. facturer, including CRRC,
WASHINGTON (AP) — The New York City designed In announcing the contest Security experts and mem- installing any type of new
Senate's top Democrat is by a Chinese state-owned winners last year, the Met- bers of Congress have technology that could in-
calling on the federal gov- company could pose a ropolitan Transportation raised the alarm about tentionally open passenger
ernment to step in and in- threat to national security. Authority, which operates CRRC because it is owned railcars to cyberthreats or
by the Chinese govern- pose a threat to commut-
ment, warning of prior cy- ers and national security,"
berthreats and hacking spokesman Dave Smolen-
attacks linked to Chinese sky said. "CRRC is eager
intelligence officials. They to address any concerns
fear allowing the compa- Senator Schumer has and
ny to install technology in we welcome an inquiry
America's rail system could regarding our U.S. opera-
potentially expose it to cy- tions."
berespionage and sabo- Legislation has been intro-
tage. Schumer's call for an duced in both the House
investigation comes amid and Senate that, if passed,
rising tensions between the would prevent federal
U.S. and China after trade funds from being used for
talks between the two na- rail projects involving Chi-
tions broke up earlier this nese companies.
month without an agree- "Given what we know
ment. Days ago, President about how cyberwarfare
Donald Trump signed an works, and recent attacks
executive order to declare that have hit transporta-
a national economic emer- tion and infrastructure hubs
gency that empowered across the country, the De-
the government to ban partment of Commerce
American telecommunica- must give the green light
tion companies from install- and thoroughly check any
ing foreign-made equip- proposals or work China's
ment and technology that CRRC does on behalf of
could pose a threat to na- the New York subway sys-
tional security. tem, including our signals,
"The MTA has robust, mul- Wi-Fi and more," Schumer
tilayered and vigorously said the statement to AP.
enforced safety and se- In 2017, hackers attacked
curity standards, but we the Sacramento transit sys-
support efforts of govern- tem and demanded a ran-
ment agencies to bolster som in cryptocurrency.q