Taiwan accuses China of damaging submarine cable off its coast - FT
Illustrative photo: Taiwan has accused China of damaging an undersea cable (Getty Images)
Taiwan said a Chinese vessel had damaged an underwater internet cable off the island's northern coast. This led to a temporary disruption of communication, the Financial Times reports.
According to the agency, the cable was damaged on January 3 near the port of Keelung. There, the cargo ship Shunxing39, registered under the flag of Cameroon, probably damaged the submarine cable, which is part of the Trans-Pacific Express Cable System.
Despite the fact that the vessel belongs to Jie Yang Trading Limited, a Hong Kong-registered company, its director is Guo Wenjie, a Chinese citizen. Taiwan believes that this incident may be part of China's strategy to sever the island's external communications.
Taiwan is concerned that China may cut off the island's external communications and attempt to annex the country.
Taiwanese coast guard spokesperson says that since they were unable to interrogate the captain, they have asked the South Korean authorities to help with the investigation at the next port of call of the ship.
According to the Taiwanese Coast Guard, the Shunxing39 raised its anchor in the area where the cable was broken.
A senior Taiwanese national security official said that this was another case of a very disturbing global trend of sabotage against submarine cables. He explained that the ships involved in these incidents were usually outdated vessels that were almost unfit for commercial operations. He also added that the vessel resembled those belonging to Russia's shadow fleet.
China's confrontation with Taiwan
China considers Taiwan its territory, but Taipei insists that only the Taiwanese can decide their future.
Tensions in the Taiwan Strait have risen since the election of Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing calls a separatist, as president. China has conducted military maneuvers near Taiwan after stopping in Hawaii and Guam, which has drawn criticism from Beijing.
China does not rule out a military takeover of the island. In 2024, Beijing twice conducted military exercises, calling them a warning against so-called separatism. Xi Jinping has repeatedly stated his intention to return Taiwan to Chinese control.
Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-te has confirmed that China considers the annexation and elimination of Taiwan's independence to be its great national cause.
