Taiwan’s coast guard detained a Togo-flagged cargo ship and its eight Chinese crew members on Tuesday, amid investigation into whether the vessel had deliberately cut an undersea internet cable connecting the island to its outlying Penghu Islands. The Hong Tai had been lingering near the cable since Saturday evening and failed to respond to multiple broadcasts from Taiwan’s coast guard.
The incident comes as tensions between Taiwan and China remain high, with Beijing accusing Taipei of “manipulating” the situation for political purposes. However, Taiwanese authorities say they cannot rule out the possibility of a Chinese “gray zone operation,” a coercive or subversive act that falls below the threshold of war.
The damage to undersea cables has become a recurring issue in recent years, with multiple incidents reported near Taiwan. In January, Taiwanese authorities suspected a Chinese-linked cargo vessel was responsible for cutting an international undersea cable off the island’s northern coast. Similar incidents have occurred in 2023 and other parts of the world.
The incident highlights concerns among Taiwan authorities about the potential for “gray zone” activities that could hamper the island’s internet connectivity and communications with the outside world. The global reliance on undersea cables, which carry over 95% of internet traffic, has raised awareness about the importance of maintaining secure and reliable communication infrastructure.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/25/asia/taiwan-detains-ship-undersea-cable-intl-hnk/index.html