Taiwan’s coast guard has detained a cargo ship and its Chinese crew after suspecting them of damaging the undersea cable connecting Taiwan to its outlying Penghu Islands. The incident occurred on Tuesday, according to a statement released by the Taiwanese coast guard.
The cargo ship, which is crewed by Chinese nationals, was stopped by Taiwanese authorities for inspection. It has since been taken into custody pending further investigation.
The damaged undersea cable is critical for communication and connectivity between Taiwan and its outlying islands. The incident raises concerns about the impact on Taiwan’s economic and national security interests.
An official statement from the Taiwanese coast guard has confirmed that the ship is suspected of cutting the undersea cable, but it did not provide further details on the extent of the damage or the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The detention of the Chinese crew and the cargo ship highlights tensions between China and Taiwan, which have been escalating in recent years. The incident is also a reminder of the importance of maintaining critical infrastructure, including undersea cables, to ensure the continuity of international communication and trade.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/25/world/video/taiwan-detain-chinese-crewed-ship-undersea-cable-digvid