Crisis Between Taiwan and China Over a New Attack on an Undersea Cable

In recent hours, the Coast Guard of Taiwandetained a cargo ship and its Chinese crew after the breakage of an underwater communication cable in the Taiwan Strait.

The incident raised suspicions that it could be a deliberate operation within what is called a "gray zone," a tactic of hostile interference that doesn't reach the threshold of war. Taiwanese authorities are investigating whether the cable breakage was intentional sabotage or an accident.

The affected cable connected Taiwan's main island with the Penghu Islands. On February 20, the telecommunications company Chunghwa Telecom reported that the cable had been damaged, and the Coast Guard was alerted in the early hours of the morning.

According to the Coast Guard spokesperson, the cargo ship, which flew the flag of Togo but was financed by China, had remained near the cable since Saturday, February 17.

Last Saturday, February 22, after the ship anchored in the area, the cable was disconnected. When attempting to contact the vessel, the Coast Guard received no response, which increased suspicions of a possible intentional act. The ship was intercepted and escorted back to the port of Anping, in Tainan, for investigation.

The ship, identified as "Hong Tai", not only flew a flag of convenience from Togo but also was crewed by eight Chinese citizens. The ownership of the ship is uncertain, as registration data shows at least three different names associated with its maritime identification number, but the Taiwanese Coast Guard described it as "financed by China."

In response to these types of situations, Taiwan has created a list of more than 50 vessels operating under flags of convenience, especially from Togo, but owned by Chinese companies and that have remained near its territorial waters for extended periods.

This incident is the latest in a series of damages to underwater cables around Taiwan in recent years. In January 2025, Taiwanese authorities investigated a Chinese-owned cargo ship registered in Cameroon, suspected of having damaged an international underwater cable by dragging its anchor.

Additionally, in 2023, two underwater cables near the Matsu Islands, in the Taiwan Strait, were cut, causing an internet service blackout. Although the Taiwanese government blamed Chinese ships, it didn't classify these incidents as deliberate acts of sabotage.

Taiwanese authorities are particularly concerned about "gray zone" operations, as Taiwan faces increasing pressure from China, which claims the island as part of its territory and has threatened to take control by force if necessary.

These incidents are part of a broader trend of damage to underwater infrastructure in various parts of the world, including in the Baltic Sea, where Chinese ships have been implicated in similar incidents that are still under investigation.

Moreover, the importance of underwater cables for global communications is critical, as more than 95% of the world's internet traffic is carried through these cables, which are also essential for international trade.

In fact, approximately 1.3 million kilometers of underwater cable ensure global commercial transactions worth about 10 billion dollars daily, highlighting the strategic relevance of this type of infrastructure.

This event has increased tensions between Taiwan and China, as it is considered that the damage to the cables may be part of a broader strategy to undermine Taiwan's communication capabilities without immediately leading to direct conflict.

Investigations into the incident continue, and Taiwanese authorities have emphasized that any deliberate action in the area, especially if linked to China, will be treated seriously and thoroughly investigated.