Taiwan will deploy its navy if needed to assist the coast guard in responding to suspicious activities near undersea communication cables, Defense Minister Wellington Koo said Thursday.
The announcement comes as Taiwanese authorities investigate recent damage to a cable near Keelung Harbor, with suspicions that the Chinese-linked cargo ship, Shunxin39, was responsible.
The cable, critical for internet connectivity, was damaged earlier this month, prompting Chunghwa Telecom, a major Taiwanese internet provider, to alert the Taiwan Coast Guard after spotting the vessel near the affected area.
The Shunxin39 is owned by Hong Kong-based Jie Yang Trading Limited and is crewed by seven Chinese nationals. Taiwanese officials noted unusual behavior from the ship, including an erratic route and the use of dual positioning system numbers.
Poor weather prevented authorities from boarding the vessel, and no direct evidence has been presented linking it to the cable damage. However, Taiwanese officials have not ruled out the possibility of deliberate sabotage as part of what they term “gray zone operations” – non-military actions designed to undermine Taiwan without provoking open conflict.
Speaking to reporters at parliament, Koo said the armed forces would closely coordinate with the coast guard and monitor areas where sea cables are located.
“Once something happens, the coast guard will go out first, and if needed, the navy will immediately cooperate if a response is required,” he added.
Taiwan has faced similar incidents before, and experts warn that damaging communication cables could be a strategy to isolate the island in the event of a larger conflict. Taiwan’s Defense Minister Wellington Koo announced that the navy would support the Coast Guard in monitoring undersea cables and responding to suspicious activities.
The incident follows other instances of undersea cable damage in other regions. Chinese ships have previously been implicated in similar incidents, such as in the Baltic Sea, where vessels reportedly dragged anchors to sever cables.
Chinese researchers have studied cable-cutting methods for years. A Newsweek report uncovered two Chinese patent applications, one as recent as 2020, for devices designed to cut undersea cables. Although the patents were later withdrawn, experts believe these efforts align with Beijing’s potential use of hybrid warfare tactics against Taiwan.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office denied the allegations, describing the cable damage as a “common maritime incident” and accusing Taiwan of making unfounded claims.
