Taiwan Coast Guard Detains China-Linked Cargo Ship After Undersea Cable Disconnection

Taiwan’s coast guard announced on Tuesday that they had detained a China-linked cargo ship following the disconnection of a crucial undersea cable to the Penghu Islands in the sensitive Taiwan Strait. This incident has raised concerns about Chinese activities in the region, which Taipei sees as attempts to pressure Taiwan without direct confrontation.

China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has been engaging in what Taiwan refers to as “grey zone” activities near the island. These activities, such as balloon overflights and sand dredging, are seen as tactics to assert Chinese influence in the region.

Earlier this year, a Chinese-linked ship was suspected of damaging another undersea cable, prompting Taiwan to increase efforts to protect its vital communication links. The recent detention of the Hong Tai 58, a Chinese-crewed cargo ship registered in Togo, is part of these heightened security measures.

The coast guard dispatched three vessels to detain the Hong Tai 58, which had dropped anchor near the disconnected cable off Taiwan’s southwestern coast. All eight crew members on board the vessel are Chinese nationals, and the ship is registered under a flag of convenience, indicating it is owned by a party other than its flag state.

Authorities suspect that the ship’s activities may be related to grey-zone harassment, although further investigation is required to confirm this. The Chinese government has not yet commented on the incident, and the ship’s owner could not be reached for a response.

Despite the cable disconnection, communications between Taiwan and other offshore islands, including Penghu, remained unaffected as services were redirected to alternative cables, according to the digital ministry. However, the incident has been classified as a national security matter by Taiwan’s government.

Security officials in Taiwan have expressed concern over the ship’s behavior, noting that it had been lingering in the waters southwest of Taiwan since Saturday and had ignored calls from the coast guard. This incident is part of a series of cable malfunctions reported by Taiwan this year, highlighting the vulnerability of its undersea communication infrastructure.

In 2023, Taiwan experienced a similar disruption when two undersea cables connecting the Matsu islands were cut, resulting in internet disconnection. While Taiwan blamed Chinese vessels for the incident, no conclusive evidence of deliberate sabotage by Beijing was found.

As Taiwan continues to navigate the challenges posed by Chinese activities in the region, the detention of the Hong Tai 58 underscores the importance of safeguarding its critical communication infrastructure.

(Reuters – Reporting By Yimou Lee. Editing by Gerry Doyle)