Quick access to main page (top) Direct access to main contents Quick access to main page (bottom)

Taiwan Requests South Korea’s Assistance in Investigating Chinese Ship for Damaging Undersea Cables

Daniel Kim Views  

Taiwan has sought South Korea’s assistance in investigating a Chinese cargo vessel suspected of severing undersea communication cables off its coast. This development comes amid escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait, and observers are closely monitoring whether this incident could further strain cross-strait relations.

On Sunday, the Financial Times reported that Chunghwa Telecom (CHT), Taiwan’s leading telecommunications company, and the Coast Guard believe the cargo ship Shunxing39 damaged undersea communication cables off Keelung’s northern coast on January 3.

A Taiwanese Coast Guard official stated, “We have requested South Korean authorities to investigate the vessel at its next port of call, as we were unable to question the captain directly.” FT added that Taiwanese national security officials expect the Chinese cargo ship to dock in Busan within days.

While Shunxing39 sails under the Cameroonian flag and is registered to a Hong Kong company, Taiwanese officials noted that the sole director listed for the company is from mainland China. Based on Automatic Identification System (AIS) data and satellite imagery analysis, Taiwanese authorities believe the cargo ship intentionally lowered its anchor to cut the undersea communication cables linking Taiwan to the U.S. West Coast. The damaged cables are part of the Trans-Pacific Express (TPE) network, owned by an international consortium that includes AT&T, NTT, KT, China Telecom, and China Unicom.

This incident has fueled speculation in Taiwan that China may be testing methods to disrupt Taiwan’s communications with the outside world. Taiwan relies heavily on fourteen undersea cables for 95% of its international data and voice traffic. A senior Taiwanese security official commented, “The vessel involved in this incident is an aging ship with little other business. Its condition is poor, reminiscent of Russia’s ‘shadow fleet.'”

Taiwanese authorities explained that adverse weather conditions prevented Coast Guard personnel from boarding the suspect vessel. Additionally, the time elapsed since the incident made it challenging to detain the ship for investigation under international law. Financial Times reported that vessel tracking data showed Shunxing39 had been operating near Taiwan’s northern coast since December 8, well before the cable-cutting incident.

Daniel Kim
content@viewusglobal.com

Comments0

300

Comments0

[ASIA] Latest Stories

  • North Korea Buried in April Snow—Experts Warn of Major Crop Damage After Climate Shock
  • North Korea’s Smartest Teens Are Being Dragged Into the Military—Here’s Why
  • North Korea Opens Its First Internet Café—and Kim Jong Un Brings His Daughter
  • Vietnam Cracks Down on Imports to Avoid U.S. Tariff Backlash
  • Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Time Spec Breaks Tsukuba Circuit Record, Cementing EV Performance Legacy
  • North Korea Sends Young Volunteers to Dangerous Jobs Under the Guise of Voluntary Participation

You May Also Like

  • 1
    Doctors Urge Caution as Killer Bacteria Found in Warm Seawater

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    Deadly Mosquito Alert Hits Just in Time for Japan’s Spring Travel Boom

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    Diabetes Is Rising Fast in Young People — Here's What You Can Do

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    We Tried a Week of Nothing but Protein Shakes—Here’s What Happened

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    New Study Finds Gene That Could Ease Allergies in Kid

    LIFESTYLE 

Popular Now

  • 1
    Purple Carrots Are Making a Comeback—and Here’s Why You Should Care

    LIFESTYLE&nbsp

  • 2
    Beat Those Chills Without Pills: 5 Things You Can Do at Home

    LIFESTYLE&nbsp

  • 3
    New Study Says You Can Slim Down and Save Your Bones—Here’s How

    LIFESTYLE&nbsp

  • 4
    Thyroid in Overdrive? Check Your Iodine—It Might Be the Culprit

    LIFESTYLE&nbsp

  • 5
    Instant Noodles Got You Bloated? These Tiny Tomatoes Could Save the Day

    LIFESTYLE&nbsp

Must-Reads

  • 1
    Doctors Urge Caution as Killer Bacteria Found in Warm Seawater

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    Deadly Mosquito Alert Hits Just in Time for Japan’s Spring Travel Boom

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    Diabetes Is Rising Fast in Young People — Here's What You Can Do

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    We Tried a Week of Nothing but Protein Shakes—Here’s What Happened

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    New Study Finds Gene That Could Ease Allergies in Kid

    LIFESTYLE 

Popular Now

  • 1
    Purple Carrots Are Making a Comeback—and Here’s Why You Should Care

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    Beat Those Chills Without Pills: 5 Things You Can Do at Home

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    New Study Says You Can Slim Down and Save Your Bones—Here’s How

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    Thyroid in Overdrive? Check Your Iodine—It Might Be the Culprit

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    Instant Noodles Got You Bloated? These Tiny Tomatoes Could Save the Day

    LIFESTYLE