Taiwan investigating a Chinese language-crewed ship believed to have severed an undersea cable

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwanese authorities are investigating a Chinese language-crewed ship suspected of severing an undersea communications cable within the newest such incident including to tensions between Taipei and Beijing.

Taiwan’s coast guard intercepted the Togolese-flagged cargo ship Hongtai in waters between its major island’s west coast and the outlying Penghu Islands early Tuesday, in line with a press release by the coast guard.

The coast guard had earlier been notified by telecommunications supplier Chunghwa Telecom that one among its undersea cables had been severed 6 nautical miles (11 kilometers) northwest of Jiangjun Fishing Harbor.

The Hongtai had been anchored in that very same space since Saturday night, the coast guard mentioned. From Saturday till early Tuesday, authorities within the close by Anping Port in Tainan had despatched alerts to the vessel seven instances however had obtained no response. After the Chunghwa Telecom cable injury report, the coast guard approached the ship, which had begun to sail northwestward, and escorted it to Anping Port.

Taiwanese authorities mentioned the ship’s complete eight-person crew had been Chinese language nationals and the case was being dealt with “in accordance with nationwide security-level rules.”

“The reason for the underwater cable break, whether or not it was on account of intentional sabotage or just an accident, continues to be pending additional investigation for clarification,” the coast guard mentioned.

“The potential of this being a part of a gray-zone incursion by China can’t be dominated out,” it added.

Communications on the Penghu Islands weren’t disrupted as a result of Chunghwa Telecom had efficiently activated a backup cable, the coast guard mentioned.

That is the newest in a collection of incidents lately through which undersea Taiwanese cables have been broken — with Taipei in some situations blaming China. Earlier this yr, a Chinese language cargo ship was suspected of severing a hyperlink northeast of the island.

In February 2023, two undersea cables serving Taiwan’s Matsu Islands had been severed, disrupting communications for weeks.

Taipei fears China would possibly injury its underwater communications cables as a part of makes an attempt to blockade or seize the island, which Beijing claims as its personal.

A Chinese language International Ministry spokesperson mentioned throughout a daily press briefing on Tuesday that he was not conscious of the difficulty and it didn’t pertain to diplomacy.