Undersea cables have become a focal point of international tensions in recent weeks, with incidents raising concerns over potential sabotage.
Just days after reports of Russian vessels allegedly cutting wires in the Baltic Sea, a similar incident took place off the coast of Taiwan, heightening suspicions of deliberate actions aimed at disrupting telecommunications and international connections.
Taiwanese Telecom Cable Sabotage
The latest incident occurred near Yehliu, New Taipei City, when an undersea telecommunications cable was reportedly damaged by a Chinese ship.
On Friday, the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) and Chunghwa Telecom confirmed that the international cable near Keelung Harbor had been severed by the Shunxin-39, a freighter registered in Cameroon.
Despite the damage, Chunghwa Telecom reassured the public that Taiwan’s telecommunications would not be affected, as the cable was equipped with backup systems.
The CGA immediately dispatched a ship from its first fleet after receiving reports of the damage.
They located the Shunxin-39 about 13 kilometers north of Yehliu.
Taiwan’s authorities ordered the ship to return to Keelung Harbor for further inspection.
There, investigators discovered that four cores of the international cable had been intentionally damaged.
Tracking data revealed that the vessel had anchored close to the point of destruction, suggesting that it may have been involved in the sabotage.
A Suspicious Link to China
While the Shunxin-39 displayed a Cameroon flag, Taiwanese officials suspect that it is owned by China.
The ship is believed to have been purchased by Jie Yang Trading Limited, a company registered in Hong Kong, with a Chinese national, Guo Wenjie, listed as its sole director.
This connection has led many to suspect that the ship’s actions were part of a broader pattern of Chinese interference with Taiwanese infrastructure.
Ho Cheng-hui, CEO of Kuma Academy, commented on the incident, noting that China has a history of using maritime tactics to disrupt Taiwanese operations.
He suggested that this was part of China’s “gray zone” tactics to test international responses and escalate tensions.
In response, Taiwan is working to strengthen its resilience by launching its own satellites to improve telecom capabilities and reduce dependence on vulnerable undersea cables.
The Bigger Picture: China’s Growing Pressure on Taiwan
This incident occurs amid rising tensions between Taiwan and China.
Just days before, Chinese President Xi Jinping issued a stark warning, declaring that “no one can stop” the reunification of Taiwan with China.
Beijing continues to claim Taiwan as part of its territory, and recent military exercises have underscored the growing pressure Taiwan faces.
These developments signal that Beijing is not backing down from its goal of bringing Taiwan under its control.
Similar Incidents in the Baltic Sea
The sabotage of undersea cables is not limited to Taiwan.
In the Baltic Sea, an incident involving a Russian-linked vessel has raised similar concerns.
The vessel, Eagle S, which is flagged in the Cook Islands, is believed to have caused damage to the Estlink-2 power cable, which connects Finland and Estonia.
Finnish authorities are investigating whether the damage was caused intentionally.
Given the proximity of two vessels in the area and the suspicious circumstances, the possibility of deliberate sabotage is being considered.
The Eagle S is linked to Russia’s shadow fleet, which has been used to circumvent Western sanctions.
The Finnish incident occurred just after Christmas, severing the power link between the EU and NATO member states, Finland and Estonia.
Finnish authorities are still studying the situation and have not ruled out the possibility of malicious intent behind the cable damage.
What Lies Ahead?
With these incidents unfolding in different parts of the world, it’s clear that undersea cables are becoming critical points of contention.
Both Taiwan and Finland are investigating these events, and the international community is watching closely.
As geopolitical tensions rise, safeguarding these vital infrastructure systems has become more urgent than ever.