In a move that raises further concerns about regional security and communication vulnerabilities, Taiwan’s coast guard intercepted and detained a cargo ship with a Chinese crew on Tuesday, suspected of cutting an undersea internet cable. The cable, which connects Taiwan to its outlying Penghu Islands, was severed shortly after the ship dropped anchor, prompting an urgent investigation into whether the incident was an accident or a deliberate act of sabotage.

The Interception of the ‘Hong Tai’

The ship, Hong Tai, was registered in Togo, a West African nation, but was Chinese-funded and crewed by eight Chinese nationals. Taiwanese authorities noted that the vessel had been loitering near the undersea cable since Saturday evening and had ignored multiple radio broadcasts from Taiwan’s coast guard. When the ship finally dropped anchor in the early hours of Tuesday, Taiwan’s largest telecommunications provider, Chunghwa Telecom, detected a disruption in the cable, effectively disconnecting the internet connection to the Penghu Islands.

Following the cable’s disconnection, Taiwan’s coast guard quickly intercepted and boarded the vessel, escorting it back to the southern port city of Tainan for further investigation. Officials have since launched an inquiry to determine whether the damage was a result of negligence or a deliberate “gray zone” operation by China—a coercive act that falls short of open military aggression but is designed to disrupt or intimidate.

Pattern of Suspicious Cable Disruptions

This incident is not an isolated event. Taiwan has reported multiple cases of undersea telecom cables being damaged in recent years, many involving Chinese-linked vessels.

• In January 2025, a Chinese cargo ship was suspected of cutting an international undersea cable off Taiwan’s northern coast.
• In 2023, Taiwanese officials reported two separate incidents where cables connecting the island to Matsu, another outlying region, were severed, causing an internet blackout. While Taiwan did not officially accuse China, they pointed to the involvement of Chinese ships operating near the damaged areas.

Similar incidents have occurred outside of Taiwan as well. In the Baltic Sea, authorities are still investigating two cases of undersea infrastructure damage linked to Chinese vessels, raising concerns about broader geopolitical strategies involving maritime sabotage.

Strategic Risks and China’s ‘Gray Zone’ Tactics

The growing number of such cases has heightened fears in Taiwan that Beijing may be engaging in deliberate “gray zone” operations to disrupt the island’s digital and communication networks. Cutting undersea cables would not only isolate Taiwan’s outlying islands but could also serve as a test of Taiwan’s response capabilities in the event of a larger crisis.

China has intensified political and military pressure on Taiwan in recent years, repeatedly asserting that the self-ruled democracy is part of its territory and that it will take control—by force if necessary. Disrupting Taiwan’s communication infrastructure could be a tactic to weaken its ability to resist or respond to external threats.

Global Implications

The strategic importance of undersea cables cannot be overstated. According to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, more than 95% of global internet traffic relies on these cables, which span 1.3 million kilometers worldwide and secure an estimated $10 trillion in daily international trade. Any disruption to these networks poses significant risks, not just for Taiwan but for the global economy and security.

As Taiwan’s authorities continue their investigation, the world will be watching closely to see whether this was an accident or a calculated act—and what it could mean for the future of maritime security and geopolitical stability in the region.