Taiwan's coast guard detained a cargo ship and its Chinese crew on Tuesday for investigation into a possible deliberate cutting of an undersea internet cable. The vessel, named 'Hong Tai,' was flying a 'flag of convenience' from the West African nation of Togo and had Chinese nationals as its crew.
The incident occurred off the southwestern coast of Taiwan, where the ship had been lingering near the cable connecting Taiwan to the Penghu Islands. Despite multiple attempts to communicate with the vessel, it did not respond to Taiwan's coast guard broadcasts.
After the ship dropped anchor, Taiwan's telecom company detected the cable disconnection. The coast guard intercepted and boarded the vessel, escorting it to the port in Tainan for further investigation.
Authorities are considering the possibility of a Chinese 'gray zone operation,' a subversive act falling below the threshold of war. The coast guard stated that whether the damage was intentional sabotage or accidental needs further probing.
This incident is not the first involving undersea cable damage near Taiwan. In previous instances, Chinese-linked vessels were suspected of similar actions, raising concerns about potential disruptions to Taiwan's internet connectivity.
Global concerns about undersea infrastructure security have been growing, with incidents worldwide involving damage to communication cables. NATO estimates that over 95% of global internet traffic relies on undersea cables, highlighting the critical importance of safeguarding these vital communication pathways.
As investigations continue into the cargo ship incident, Taiwanese authorities are on high alert for any threats to their communication networks amidst escalating tensions with Beijing over Taiwan's sovereignty.
