Taiwanese-controlled island and Xiamen in the southeastern Chinese province of Fujian. AFP PHOTO/Patrick LIN (Photo credit should read PATRICK LIN/AFP via Getty Images)
(EPICSTORIAN) — Taiwan’s coast guard intercepted a Chinese-crewed cargo ship suspected of damaging an undersea internet cable connecting the island to its outlying Penghu Islands.
The Hong Tai, a Togo-flagged vessel, remained in waters off Taiwan’s southwestern coast for days without responding to multiple warnings before being detained.
Chinese-crewed ship Members suspected For the undersea internet Cable Disruption
Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan’s largest telecom provider, reported a sudden disconnection in the cable shortly after the ship dropped anchor early Tuesday, according to CNN.
Coast guard personnel boarded the vessel and escorted it to Tainan for an investigation into possible sabotage.
Prosecutors are handling the case under national security protocols. Coast guard officials stated, “Further investigation is needed to determine whether this was an accident or intentional damage.”
Beijing dismissed the allegations. Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, stated that undersea cable damage is a frequent maritime occurrence, happening over a hundred times annually.
“The Democratic Progressive Party authorities are deliberately exaggerating the situation for political purposes,” Zhu said.
Undersea cable disruptions near Taiwan have raised concerns in recent years. In January, officials linked a Chinese vessel to the severing of an international cable off Taiwan’s northern coast.
Similar incidents in 2023 cut connections between Taiwan’s main island and Matsu, causing widespread communication blackouts.
Taipei remains alert to possible “gray zone” tactics, unconventional coercive measures that could undermine national security.
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NATO estimates that over 95% of global internet traffic relies on undersea cables, which also support trillions in international trade.
Recent sabotage cases, including incidents in the Baltic Sea involving Chinese vessels, have heightened concerns over infrastructure security.
