Undersea Cable Sabotage: Taiwan Jails Chinese Captain for three Years
Taiwan criticizes Chinese pilot for his actions.
In a landmark verdict, a Taiwanese court has convicted a Chinese captain for severing an undersea cable off Taiwan's coast, marking the first time such misdeeds have faced legal consequences. The captain, whose surname is Wang, was found guilty of Telecommunications Act violations and handed a three-year prison sentence by the Tainan District Court.
This incident involved a cargo ship, the "Hongtai," owned under the Togolese flag, that dropped anchor near Taiwan's southern coast at the end of February, causing damage to a fiber-optic cable owned by Chunghwa Telecom. The cable was a vital connection between Taiwan and the strategically important Penghu Islands, located in the Taiwan Strait, a narrow body of water separating Taiwan from mainland China.
Potential Grey-Zone Activities
Initially, Taiwan's Coast Guard suspected the incident could be a "grey-zone" activity, referring to actions that don't meet the threshold of open conflict yet serve to exert pressure. Such activities have been a recurring means for China to apply pressure on Taiwan, which has its own democratically elected and independent government. Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory.
International Reaction
China's Foreign Ministry questioned the circumstances surrounding the verdict, asserting that it was not aware of them, and described the issue as unrelated to diplomatic matters. After the incident, the ministry accused Taiwan of stirring up a needless commotion.
Frequent incidents of damage to underwater cables in the region have been attributed to natural causes, such as earthquakes or fishing activities. However, security experts are growing increasingly concerned about the possibility of deliberate disruptions if tensions with China continue to escalate.
Precedents and Concerns
Previous incidents involving damaged undersea cables have highlighted the potential economic, military, and emergency response implications. For example, in February 2023, China was found responsible for damaging cables providing the Matsu Islands with services for weeks. Similarly, a Tanzanian-flagged vessel, the Xingshun 39, allegedly damaged a cable north of Taipei in January 2025, disrupting a significant link between Taiwan, Asia, and the United States.
The sabotage of undersea cables is considered a global security risk due to its potential impact on critical communication and financial systems. There is a growing concern in the U.S. about China's "shadow fleet" and its potential to disrupt vital infrastructure, prompting calls for improved security measures for Taiwan's cables.
[1] ntv.de, mbr/dpa
[2] The Diplomat
[3] Taiwan News
[4] Taiwanese Court
[5] China's Foreign Ministry
- In light of the growing concerns about deliberate disruptions to undersea cables, particularly amid escalating tensions with China, the Community policy and politics discussions might include the need for enhanced international cooperation to address this gray-zone activity in war-and-conflicts and general-news forums.
- As China's Foreign Ministry continues to question the verdicts and counter accusations regarding undersea cable sabotage, crime-and-justice investigations may involve examining the employment policies of shipping companies, focusing on employment policy violations, in an effort to uncover any patterns or connections to these incidents.
