Taiwan Coast Guard Probes Suspected Cable Sabotage

The Taiwanese Coast Guard has detained the vessel Hong Tai 58 amid suspicions that it deliberately damaged an undersea cable on 25th February. Authorities have indicated that they have not dismissed the possibility that this act of sabotage may be linked to China.

Taiwanese officials revealed that the vessel is believed to have severed a cable serving the Penghu Islands in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan has long accused China of engaging in grey zone tactics, which involve hostile actions that fall short of outright warfare.

On 22nd February, Hong Tai 58 was reportedly in the vicinity of the affected cable at approximately 7:10 PM local time when Chunghwa Telecom reported the disconnection. The Chinese Coast Guard was alerted to the cable cut around 3:00 AM local time the following morning, prompting them to intercept the suspected vessel and request additional support.

Coast Guard vessels located Hong Tai 58 off the coast of Tainan, subsequently escorting it back to Anping. Although the ship flies a Togolese flag, officials suspect it may be using a flag of convenience, as all eight crew members are Chinese nationals.

Investigations are ongoing, and Taiwanese authorities have stated they are not ruling out deliberate sabotage. Despite the incident, communications between mainland Taiwan and Penghu Island remain intact, with data rerouted through alternative cables.