Deutsche Welle’s Chinese edition recently reported that in February, a Chinese vessel was convicted of allegedly cutting one of Taiwan’s undersea telecommunication cables. Such incidents are viewed as part of Beijing’s “gray-zone tactics,” aimed at draining Taiwan’s resources. In response, Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration has stepped up 24-hour surveillance in key waters and increased intelligence-sharing with allies.
The Taiwanese government has confirmed two suspected cases of cable sabotage involving Chinese vessels, including one in northern Taiwan. Precautionary measures were heightened after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and further reinforced following suspected undersea sabotage in the Baltic Sea. Since then, Taiwan has conducted continuous patrols, though the operations have placed heavy strain on Coast Guard resources. Authorities are also monitoring nearly 400 Chinese-affiliated vessels, including cargo ships believed to be convertible for military use.
In March, Chinese researchers unveiled a compact deep-sea cable-cutting device capable of severing even the most durable underwater communication and power lines at depths of up to 4,000 meters.
Source: DW Chinese, September 12, 2025
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