Taiwan’s sea cable around the Northeast of Yehliu area was suspected to have been damaged by a cargo ship of Cameroonian origin with ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Instances of sea cable damage suspected to be caused by the CCP have been increasingly frequent in recent years, highlighting the critical issue of how Taiwan and the international community ensure the security of sea cables in the face of Beijing’s threats.
Following reports of the sea cable in Taiwan’s sea area being damaged on the 3rd, the Coast Guard Administration dispatched ships for inspection and immediately intercepted the cargo ship, believed to have Chinese connections. The ship was ordered to proceed to sea outside Keelung Harbor for investigation, raising the possibility of Chinese vessels engaging in gray zone intrusions.
The Wall Street Journal noted that submarine cables are now considered critical infrastructure globally, yet intentional damage to such cables has been alarmingly frequent in recent years, particularly in European waters, especially in the Baltic Sea region.
According to European investigators, in the past year, two cargo ships with ties to the CCP have severed multiple undersea cables and a natural gas pipeline. In the Baltic Sea, in November last year, two fiber optic data cables were damaged, one connecting Sweden and Lithuania, and the other connecting Finland and Germany. Authorities implicated a Chinese vessel in the incident, and the CCP government later allowed European investigators to board for inspection in the presence of Chinese officials. Investigators in intelligence and diplomatic circles revealed that there was likely no involvement by the CCP government in the incident.
In December last year, Finland detained an oil tanker suspected of damaging undersea power and internet cables, linking Russia.
In October 2023, the Hong Kong-registered container ship “Newnew Polar Bear” was accused of dragging anchors to sever natural gas pipelines and internet cables under the Gulf of Finland. After the incident, the ship swiftly sailed from the Baltic Sea to Russia and has not been investigated to date.
Taiwan authorities revealed that in 2023, two internet cables connecting Matsu were also cut off by a Chinese fishing boat and a cargo ship, resulting in Matsu losing internet connectivity for several weeks, shedding light on the potential disruption Taiwan may face if cut off from the network.
The Wall Street Journal highlighted that the CCP is conducting a prolonged, multidimensional pressure campaign against Taiwan’s leadership and people. Taiwan is actively enhancing internet service security to ensure the island’s network operations in the face of potential CCP intrusion or blockage.
Deputy Minister of the Digital Development Department, Que He-ming, stated in a recent interview that cutting off sea cables is unlikely to be accidental, emphasizing the need to promptly intercept ships suspected of sabotage to prevent them from escaping to China, rendering authorities powerless.
In December last year, Taiwan conducted a cyber war game exercise in response to a simulated network attack or blockade by the CCP, involving President Lai Ching-te and the top government officials. The exercise was arranged to prepare for potential cyber threats or blockades from the CCP.
A Taiwan national security official revealed that the ship suspected of damaging Taiwan’s sea cables had been circling Taiwan’s surrounding waters for the past two weeks. However, the Chinese vessel deliberately registered under a foreign flag to conceal its identity, raising suspicions similar to the Baltic Sea cable cut incidents.
Retired US Air Force Colonel and Director of the National Security Innovation Center at Stanford University, SeaLight Project, Ray Powell, described cable sabotage as a gray zone warfare tactic that appears to be emerging as a new trend. He stated that Beijing’s intention is to make the other party feel destined for failure and accept conditions without facing bloodshed.
Former Deputy Minister of the Ministry of National Defense, Huang Yin-shan, one of Taiwan’s early scholars to focus on cable issues, urged Taiwan to take stronger measures to protect sea cables, especially in offshore wind farm areas. She suggested coordinating with maritime patrol agencies and navy to enhance law enforcement capabilities, plan for various scenarios, coordinate with private cable laying vessels, and strengthen emergency maintenance capabilities for sea cables during crises.
(Central News Agency)