A Taiwanese telecoms company, Chunghwa Telecom, detected damage to an international undersea cable earlier this month. The company swiftly diverted internet traffic to maintain connectivity for customers on the island. However, suspicions arose when a 'suspicious vessel,' the Shunxin39, was observed on the same route as the damaged cable. Taiwanese Coast Guard officials suspect the Chinese-linked cargo vessel may have cut the cable, raising concerns about potential threats from Beijing.
While there is no direct evidence linking the vessel to the cable damage, radar data showed its proximity to the incident. The vessel, crewed by seven Chinese nationals and owned by a Hong Kong company, exhibited unusual behavior according to tracking data. The incident has prompted fears of 'gray zone operations' aimed at disrupting Taiwan's communications infrastructure.
