China's secret cable-cutting tech raises new security alarms

In recent weeks, several incidents have occurred in the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, and off the coast of Taiwan, where underwater fiber optic cables have been mysteriously severed.

Experts have concluded that the damage to the infrastructure is deliberate sabotage. NATO naval units have been put on alert. Both China and Russia are suspected.

Journalists from the American "Newsweek" have obtained the patent for a mysterious device. It's an invention created by Chinese engineers from Lishui University with the straightforward name "dragging type submarine cable cutting device."

Chinese experts cited by "Newsweek" wrote in the patent documentation that "with the development of science and technology, more and more submarine cables and communication cables are laid on the seabed of all parts of the world and the cables need to be cut off in some emergency situations." This is likely just a cover for the actual use of the tool.

The equipment detects copper and quickly locates underwater cabling. Thanks to this, units equipped with such a device do not need access to maps showing exactly where the cable infrastructure is located.

Representatives of Lishui University did not want to speak with journalists from the American "Newsweek."

In the future, China will continue to work with the international community to actively promote the construction of global information infrastructure such as submarine cables, jointly protect submarine cables, and work together to build a community with a shared future in cyberspace, said Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, as quoted by "Newsweek."