A cargo vessel with Chinese connections is suspected of deliberately damaging a major undersea telecommunications cable linking Taiwan to the United States, raising concerns about infrastructure security in the region.
The Trans-Pacific Express Cable System, which provides critical internet connectivity between Taiwan, the US East Coast, Japan, South Korea, and China, was damaged on January 4th according to Chunghwa Telecom and Taiwan Coast Guard reports.
While the suspect vessel Shunxing39 flies a Cameroon flag, investigations revealed it is owned by Hong Kong-based Jie Yang Trading Limited with mainland Chinese citizen Guo Wenjie as its sole director. Tracking data showed the ship dragging its anchor near the damage site while operating in Taiwan's northern waters since December.
A senior Taiwanese security official noted the incident fits a disturbing pattern of cable sabotage, comparing the vessel to Russia's "shadow fleet" - older ships used for covert operations. The official emphasized the ship's movements suggested deliberate intent rather than accidental damage.
Weather conditions prevented Taiwanese authorities from boarding the vessel for inspection. Taiwan has requested assistance from South Korean authorities as the ship heads to Busan port.
This incident follows similar cases of suspected deliberate cable damage. In November, a Chinese bulk carrier allegedly cut cables between Finland and Sweden. On December 25th, a suspected Russian shadow fleet vessel damaged communication and power cables connecting Finland and Estonia.
The threat extends beyond physical infrastructure. Taiwan faces an average of 2.4 million daily cyberattacks targeting government systems - double the rate seen in 2023. These combined threats pose serious challenges for Taiwan's defense capabilities, particularly given China's territorial claims over the island.
Maritime experts note that undersea cables are clearly marked on shipping charts to prevent accidental damage. The recent surge in suspected deliberate targeting has prompted NATO to plan sea drone deployments for cable protection, though Taiwan lies outside this defensive network.