Taiwan is investigating a potential act of sabotage after a subsea telecommunications cable was severed near the island on Tuesday. The Taiwanese authorities have detained a Togolese-flagged cargo ship, Hong Tai, owned and crewed by Chinese nationals, in connection with the incident.
The Coast Guard reported that the submarine communications cable, linking Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, was cut early on Tuesday morning. The ship suspected of being involved, Hong Tai, was escorted back to Taiwan for further investigation. The vessel is flagged under Togo, but the ownership and crew are Chinese.
The Coast Guard issued a statement saying that the incident is being handled according to national security protocols. While the exact motive behind the severing of the cable remains unclear, the authorities have not ruled out the possibility that it could be part of a “Chinese grey zone operation”—a strategy often used to assert influence without direct military confrontation.
Communication Breakdown and Backup Measures
The severing of the cable was reported at approximately 2:30 AM on Tuesday by Chunghwa Telecom, which notified the Coast Guard and requested an investigation. Fortunately, communications to the Penghu Islands were not significantly impacted, as a backup cable was quickly activated, ensuring continuity of services.
The Hong Tai, which is using a flag of convenience, had a crew of eight Chinese nationals and is funded by Chinese investors. Flagging a vessel under a country other than the owner’s nationality allows shipping companies to bypass certain regulations and oversight, often in exchange for financial and operational advantages.
Growing Concerns Over Taiwan’s Subsea Cables
The incident has heightened security concerns over Taiwan’s subsea cable infrastructure, which is vital for the island’s telecommunications and internet services. Taiwan is heavily reliant on 14 international and 10 domestic underwater cables, making them strategic assets that could be targeted in times of conflict or political tension.
In response to the severing of the cable, Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs instructed Chunghwa Telecom to reroute voice and internet communications for the affected Penghu Islands through alternative subsea cables.
The world’s data and communication networks rely on subsea fiber optic cables, which traverse oceans and connect continents. These cables have high strategic value, making them potential targets in geopolitical conflicts, and the recent incident has raised alarms about their vulnerability to disruption or sabotage.
Previous Incidents and Ongoing Concerns
This is not the first time Taiwan has faced issues with its subsea cables. Earlier this year, a Chinese-owned cargo ship was suspected of severing another subsea cable to the northeast of Taiwan. Additionally, two subsea cables serving the Matsu archipelago were disrupted last month due to “natural deterioration,” though some local officials suspect Chinese vessels may have been involved, especially after two cables were cut within days of each other in February 2023.
Taiwan has also increased monitoring of Chinese-owned ships that use flags of convenience to avoid international scrutiny. Last month, the Taiwanese Coast Guard identified 52 such ships, flagged under countries like Mongolia, Cameroon, Tanzania, Togo, and Sierra Leone, and placed them under close surveillance.
The island’s increasing concerns over the security of its underwater communications infrastructure underscore the growing tensions between Taiwan and China. Beijing has long considered Taiwan a part of its territory and has made numerous threats to reunify the island, potentially using force to do so. Taiwan, in turn, remains wary that China may attempt to disrupt its communication lines as part of a broader strategy to isolate the island or impose a blockade.
International Reactions and Next Steps
While the Chinese government has not officially responded to the incident, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson claimed ignorance of the situation during a regular press briefing on Tuesday, stating that the issue did not pertain to diplomacy. Taiwan, however, views the disruption of its communications infrastructure as a serious national security matter and is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the Hong Tai‘s involvement.
The ongoing investigation into the severed cable and the detention of the Hong Tai vessel will likely add to the already strained relations between Taiwan and China, as the island continues to navigate increasing pressure from its much larger neighbor. As tensions mount, Taiwan will likely bolster its security measures for its subsea cables, and continue to closely monitor any activity that could jeopardize its communications infrastructure.
