China's deep-sea devices elevate threat to global cables
Russia and China are harassing the West with attacks that, although not crossing the line into war, inflict considerable damage. These hostile actions include attacks on underwater telecommunication infrastructure. China has even admitted to having specialized devices for such tasks.
Underwater cables are easy targets. They can be severed by dragging a multi-ton anchor along the seabed, or in the case of more sensitive installations, such as a gas pipeline, even just by the anchor chain.
Such actions are relatively simple to carry out, and it's challenging to prove intentional action by the perpetrators rather than negligence or crew error. As a result, underwater infrastructure has become the target of many attacks in recent years. Some of these were carried out by ships belonging to Chinese shipping companies.
However, such attacks are limited to relatively shallow waters, where the depth does not exceed several dozen or at most a hundred or so yards. Infrastructure at such a depth is easy to destroy, but in most cases, repairs are also relatively simple.
Underwater angle grinder
In this context, the equipment revealed by China rises to the level of a very dangerous weapon. Developed by the State Laboratory of Deep-Sea Manned Vehicles, it's a cutter designed to operate in deep-sea conditions, intended for integration with various types of underwater units.
According to official statements, the new device is meant to support the exploration of marine resources and was designed under a civil program related to maritime rescue and mining. However, its capabilities are causing worldwide concern.
Made of titanium and protected against the pressure present at great depths, the equipment is equipped with a kilowatt electric motor and a 6-inch diamond blade running at 1600 revolutions per minute.
It is designed to minimize water turbulence generated by the blade's operation, which could stir up a cloud of sediment on the seabed and impair visibility.
Although the blade sizes might seem modest (with common home angle grinders having blades around 4 to 5 inches), the Chinese equipment can operate at depths of up to 4,000 yards, cutting through rubber or polymer-coated cables, as well as those protected by a steel braid.
Chinese submersibles
China also possesses underwater vehicles capable of utilizing the new equipment. As early as 2020, Beijing revealed the capabilities of the manned submersible Striver (Chinese: Fendouzhe). During a 12-hour mission, the three-person unit descended to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, reaching a depth of 11,909 yards.
To withstand pressure of around 16,000 psi, a special titanium alloy was developed, along with a new type of battery that minimizes the risk of fire during long-duration submerged missions. Among the devices that make up the Striver's equipment, the two manipulators capable of lifting objects weighing up to 130 lbs are particularly noteworthy.
In addition to manned vehicles, in recent years China has also developed deep-sea drones, such as the Haidou, capable of autonomous operation at very great depths.
Cable cutter
The information released by the Chinese has met with great interest. Although the new equipment is presented as a research tool, there is no doubt about its potential use as an underwater weapon. Moreover, this is not the first equipment designed for such a purpose developed by China.
As early as 2020, a team from Lishui University published information about a device for cutting undersea cables "in crisis situations," intended for use in case of illegal laying of submarine cables near the Chinese coast.
The device takes the form of an anchor with blades equipped with a copper detector—metal found not only in the cables themselves but also, for example, in the sheathing that protects fiber optic bundles. The detector's task is to confirm that a cable cut has indeed occurred, as evidenced by copper particles found on the blades.
Target: Underwater infrastructure
How might China use such devices? Scenarios include one drawn up by the Hong Kong newspaper "South China Morning Post." Beyond generating peacetime losses due to data transmission disruptions, Beijing could use the underwater equipment during wartime operations.
Aside from the infrastructure connecting Taiwan with the world, Chinese actions could target the underwater cables in the region of Guam, where a United States military base is located—one of the key installations from the standpoint of the balance of power in the Pacific.
Although cutting cables currently does not guarantee an information blockade, it's important to remember that undersea cables account for about 95% of global data circulation. Wireless communication not only provides lower bandwidth but is also more susceptible to disruption.
