Taiwan bolsters defences amid concerns over undersea cable damage
The damage to an undersea internet cable has heightened Taiwan's concerns about possible "grey area" operations by China. The Taiwanese Coast Guard suspects that a Chinese vessel may have been involved in the incident.
Taiwanese telecommunications company Chunghwa Telecom reported damage to an international undersea internet cable, prompting it to reroute internet traffic to maintain connectivity on the island. According to "CNN," the company also reported the incident to the Taiwanese Coast Guard, highlighting a "suspicious ship" near the damaged cable.
The Taiwanese Coast Guard suspects that the vessel Shunxin39, associated with China, might have been responsible for the damage to the cable.
Although there is no direct evidence of sabotage, radar data placed the ship near the site of the incident. Taiwanese authorities are concerned this could be part of China's "grey area" operations, which could disrupt the island's communication with the rest of the world, reports "CNN."
The Taiwanese authorities have contacted South Korea for assistance in further investigation. This incident underscores Taiwan's growing concerns about potential threats from China, which is increasingly employing intimidating tactics against the island.
Taiwan is considering bolstering maritime surveillance and enhancing the defence of undersea cables to prevent similar incidents in the future.
