Taiwan’s defense minister has stated that the navy will safeguard undersea cables if necessary

Taiwan’s Defence Minister Wellington Koo announced on Thursday that the navy will be deployed if necessary to assist the coast guard in addressing any suspicious activities near undersea communication cables. This statement follows an incident involving a ship linked to China, which is suspected of damaging one of these cables.

Taiwan, which China claims as its territory, reported that a vessel owned by a Hong Kong company, registered in both Cameroon and Tanzania, caused damage to a cable located north of the island earlier this month. However, Taiwan has been unable to confirm the ship’s intentions or board it due to adverse weather conditions.

The ship’s owner has refuted any claims of wrongdoing, while the Chinese government has accused Taiwan of fabricating allegations before establishing the facts. This incident has raised significant concerns in Taiwan, which has frequently expressed worries about “grey zone” activities by China aimed at exerting pressure without direct confrontation, including balloon overflights and sand dredging.

During a press conference at parliament, Koo emphasized that the armed forces would work in close coordination with the coast guard to monitor areas where undersea cables are situated. He stated, “If an incident occurs, the coast guard will respond first, and the navy will provide immediate support if necessary.”

Additionally, Taiwan’s National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen informed the media that the government has initiated a mechanism to share information with “international friends” regarding Chinese “grey zone” maritime activities, although he did not disclose specific details.

Taiwan will concentrate on vessels that operate under flags of convenience—ships registered in countries different from their actual owners—and will examine how China may be utilizing these vessels in the waters surrounding the island, according to Tsai. The Taiwanese government, which disputes Beijing’s claims of sovereignty, has drawn parallels between its own experiences and the damage inflicted on undersea cables in the Baltic Sea after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Recently, Taiwan’s administration remarked that Chinese ships operating under flags of convenience carry “the mark of evil.”