Taiwan has recently accused a Chinese-owned cargo ship of deliberately damaging an undersea communication cable off its northeastern coast, an incident that underscores the vulnerabilities of the island’s critical infrastructure amid rising geopolitical tensions. The vessel, identified as the Shunxing39 and registered under the flag of Cameroon, is owned by Jie Yang Trading Limited, a Hong Kong-based company directed by a Chinese national, Guo Wenjie.
The damage occurred on January 3 near the port city of Keelung, disrupting internet connectivity temporarily as the cable was part of the Trans-Pacific Express Cable System linking Taiwan to the United States. Taiwanese authorities suspect that the ship intentionally severed the cable by dragging its anchor across the seabed, supported by tracking data showing it lingered in the vicinity prior to the incident. Despite efforts from Taiwan’s Coast Guard to inspect the vessel, adverse weather conditions prevented boarding, and legal constraints delayed any potential seizure.
In response to this incident, Taiwan has sought assistance from South Korea to further investigate the matter as the Shunxing39 makes its way to Busan. This incident is not isolated; it follows a troubling pattern of similar sabotage incidents involving undersea cables globally. Recent events in the Baltic Sea have raised alarms about the security of maritime infrastructure, with previous allegations against Chinese vessels for similar actions.
A senior official from Taiwan’s national security agency remarked on this growing trend, indicating that these acts of sabotage pose significant risks to global communications and could be part of broader strategies by state actors to disrupt critical infrastructure. As tensions continue to escalate between Taiwan and China, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of undersea networks and their importance in maintaining international connectivity.