Taiwan investigates suspicious cable damage amid China tensions
The damage to an undersea internet cable has raised Taiwan's concerns about possible "gray area" operations by China. The Taiwanese Coast Guard suspects a Chinese ship may have been involved.
Taiwanese telecommunications company Chunghwa Telecom reported damage to an international undersea internet cable, prompting it to reroute internet traffic to maintain connectivity on the island. According to CNN, the company also reported the incident to the Taiwanese Coast Guard, pointing to a "suspicious ship" near the damaged cable.
The Taiwanese Coast Guard suspects that the ship Shunxin39, linked to China, might have been responsible for the cable damage.
Although there is no direct evidence of sabotage, radar data showed that the ship was near the site of the incident. Taiwanese authorities fear this could be part of China's "gray area" operations, potentially disrupting the island's communication with the rest of the world, reports CNN.
The Taiwanese authorities have contacted South Korea for further investigation assistance. This incident highlights Taiwan's growing concerns about potential threats from China, which is increasingly employing intimidating tactics against the island.
Taiwan is considering strengthening maritime surveillance and the defense of undersea cables to prevent similar incidents in the future.
