Taiwan’s undersea telecom cables have been repeatedly targeted by Chinese-owned ships in recent months, leaving policymakers worried about a potential Chinese invasion. The attacks are part of a broader pattern of hybrid tactics being used by Beijing to intimidate the island without crossing the threshold into war.
The incidents come as China and Russia strengthen their military ties, with joint exercises and naval drills becoming increasingly common. Analysts say that this growing partnership poses a new challenge for the US administration under President Trump, who has vowed to end the war in Ukraine quickly.
“China is trying to create a new normal around Taiwan,” said Chiu Chui-cheng, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council minister. “Beijing’s goal is to shrink the buffer zone between us and make it easier to escalate if needed.”
The recent cable incident was just one of several similar developments in the Baltic Sea, where Russian-flagged ships have cut electricity cables running between Finland and Estonia. Analysts say that these tactics are meant to create favorable conditions for China and Russia to act together in any potential future conflict.
US officials have warned that China is preparing for a potential invasion of Taiwan, with Secretary of State pick Marco Rubio echoing this concern during his Senate confirmation hearing. The risk of tensions between Beijing and Taipei escalating into a conflict appears to be rising, with the US struggling to cope with the growing partnership between China and Russia.
As China and Russia strengthen their ties, the US faces difficult questions about how to deal with both nuclear-armed powers together. Analysts say that it’s unclear how this would play out, but within the contours of Beijing and Moscow’s cooperation, it’s growing.
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/taiwan-trump-xi-putin-undersea-cable-invasion/33279406.html