Taiwan is investigating a Chinese-owned cargo ship suspected of damaging an undersea internet cable northeast of the island.
Chinese patents reveal aim to cut undersea cables/"multiple technical patents that Chinese engineers applied for to conduct [.] subsea cable cutting operation only adds to [.] suspicion [.] Beijing [.] is developing technical options for[.] subsea warfare" https://t.co/XW3ZilS2Zh
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The Taiwan Coast Guard said on Monday that the damaged cable, known as the Trans-Pacific Express Cable, is critical for connecting Taiwan to the internet and also links to South Korea, Japan, China, and the United States. The damage was detected by Taiwan’s primary telecommunications provider, Chunghwa Telecom, which quickly rerouted communications to prevent a major outage.
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The Coast Guard intercepted a cargo vessel off the northern city of Keelung in an area where multiple cables make landfall. The vessel, owned by a Hong Kong company, was crewed by seven Chinese nationals. The incident highlights the vulnerability of Taiwan’s crucial infrastructure to potential damage from China, especially given the fragile nature of the undersea fiber-optic cables.
Newsweek found out that there are several Chinese patent applications for devices to cut undersea cables https://t.co/lA1aQCO9KY
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These cables, numbering over a dozen, are susceptible to being broken by anchors dragged along the sea floor by ships in the congested waters surrounding Taiwan. Proving whether any damage to undersea cables is intentional remains challenging. However, analysts and officials suggest that such incidents could align with a broader pattern of intimidation and psychological warfare by China aimed at undermining Taiwan’s defenses.
The investigation into the damage and the potential involvement of the Chinese-linked vessel continues.
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Cable damage investigation in Taiwan
The incident has raised growing anxieties over the security of undersea communication channels in the region.
Taiwan’s Coast Guard noted that the suspected vessel, flagged in Cameroon and Tanzania, is owned by Hong Kong-based Jie Yang Trading Limited. The vessel’s radar data indicated it passed by the cable at the time it was damaged. A senior Coast Guard official mentioned, “As of now, we cannot ascertain its real intentions, but we won’t rule out the possibility of China destroying the cable through ‘gray zone operations’.” Such acts could be part of preparations for an economic blockade or quarantine of the island.
The director of Jie Yang Trading Limited, Chinese national Guo Wenjie, denied the vessel was responsible for the damage, stating, “There’s no evidence at all.”
Analysts emphasize the need for more evidence to determine the intentionality of the incident but highlight Taiwan’s need to bolster maritime surveillance and protect its submarine cables. They warn that sabotage of these cables could sever Taiwan’s connectivity to the international community, affecting its digital economy, international trade, and banking. Recent months have seen a surge in Chinese military activities near Taiwan, including naval and aircraft operations.
Taiwan has been increasingly wary of Beijing using civilian ships and its coast guard for a blockade or other coercive measures. Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs is working on initiatives to strengthen communications, including exploring alternative internet options like low-Earth-orbit satellites and adding new submarine cable stations. These efforts are seen as urgent amidst multiple incidents where Chinese and Russian vessels have come under scrutiny for damaging undersea infrastructure.