Undersea cable near Taiwan damaged in suspected sabotage by China

A submarine cable in the northeastern waters of Taiwan was recently damaged, with authorities initially identifying a cargo ship, the “Shun Xin 39,” flying the flag of Cameroon, as the perpetrator. The Taiwan Coast Guard Administration (CGA) stated that after receiving a report from Chunghwa Telecom at 12:40 PM on January 3rd, they immediately dispatched patrol boats to the affected area. The cable, located near Yehliu in New Taipei City, sustained damage to four of its cores.

Despite the disruption, Chunghwa Telecom confirmed that communication within Taiwan was not affected due to the presence of backup systems. At approximately 4:40 PM, the CGA located the “Shun Xin 39” seven nautical miles north of Yehliu and ordered the vessel to return to the waters outside Keelung Port for investigation. Officials conducted evidence collection, but were unable to board the ship for further inspection due to inclement weather.

China has not publicly responded to these allegations. The Chinese Foreign Ministry also did not immediately reply to requests for comment from reporters. Meanwhile, Taiwanese officials suspect that although the “Shun Xin 39” is registered in Cameroon, its owner may be a Hong Kong entity with ties to mainland China. Ho Cheng-hui, the CEO of the Taiwan non-profit civil defense organization “Black Bear Academy,” suggested this incident is part of a broader strategy by China to test international tolerance through "gray zone" tactics.

Mr. Ho Cheng-hui stated, "This is not an isolated incident. China has a history of targeting Taiwan's infrastructure to probe international reactions." The CGA has transferred the case to the District Prosecutor's Office, which will determine criminal responsibility and pursue damages. This incident echoes other cases of damage to underwater infrastructure globally, particularly in the Baltic Sea region, where critical cables and pipelines have also been targeted.

In November 2024, two fiber optic cables in the Baltic Sea were severed, with investigations focusing on the Chinese bulk carrier “Yipeng 3.” A month later, Finland launched a sabotage investigation after damage to the Estlink 2 power cable and four telecom lines. Finnish authorities suspect that a tanker, the "Hong S," linked to Russia’s "shadow fleet," damaged the cables by dragging its anchor along the seabed. A Finnish court recently rejected the ship's release request. Several police investigations are ongoing, but no suspects have been charged.

These incidents have heightened concerns about maritime security, with NATO pledging to increase its presence in the Baltic Sea region. Meanwhile, Taiwan is increasing efforts to protect its communication infrastructure in response to maritime threats. Plans include deploying low-Earth orbit and medium-Earth orbit satellites to reduce reliance on vulnerable submarine cables. The CGA emphasized its commitment to protecting Taiwan’s critical infrastructure. “We will work tirelessly to ensure accountability and strengthen our defenses against future threats,” the CGA said in a statement.