Taiwan’s coast guard has detained a cargo ship with a Chinese crew after an important undersea telecommunications cable was mysteriously cut. The ship, named Hongtai 58, was flying a Togolese flag but had a crew of eight Chinese nationals. It was found lingering near the damaged cable, raising suspicions.
Authorities said the ship had dropped anchor off the southwestern coast of Taiwan around the same time the cable was disconnected. When the coast guard tried to contact the vessel, it did not respond to multiple calls. This made officials even more concerned. They decided to escort the ship to Taiwan for further investigation.
The damaged cable connects the Penghu Islands, which are part of Taiwan, to the main island. These cables are extremely important because they allow internet and phone services to function properly. Although the break did not disrupt communication—since data was rerouted through other cables—Taiwanese authorities are taking the matter very seriously.
Concerns Over “Grey Zone” Tactics
Taiwanese officials have not yet determined whether the cable was cut on purpose or if it was just an accident. However, they are not ruling out the possibility that this could be part of China’s “grey zone” tactics.
“Grey zone” activities are actions that create pressure and tension without direct military confrontation. Taiwan has accused China of using such tactics before. These include sending weather balloons over Taiwan, sand dredging in its waters, and other activities that seem suspicious but do not count as open attacks.
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Taiwan’s government considers this latest incident a national security issue. A senior official noted that the Hongtai 58 had stayed in the area for an unusually long time, which made its presence even more questionable.
So far, Beijing has not responded to Taiwan’s concerns. However, this is not the first time a Chinese or Chinese-crewed ship has been linked to undersea cable damage. Similar cases have been reported before, making this situation even more alarming for Taiwan.
A Rising Pattern of Cable Disruptions
Taiwan’s Ministry for Digital Affairs revealed that this is already the fifth case of an undersea cable malfunction in 2025. In comparison, there were only three such cases in both 2024 and 2023. The increasing number of incidents has raised concerns about whether these disruptions are accidental or part of a larger pattern.
Other parts of the world have also experienced similar problems. In the Baltic Sea, for example, multiple undersea cables have been damaged in recent months, causing diplomatic tensions between European countries and Russia. These incidents show that cutting undersea cables can be a serious issue, affecting not only communication but also national security.
For now, Taiwanese authorities are continuing their investigation. They are trying to determine exactly how the cable was cut and whether the Hongtai 58 was responsible. The case remains open, and many are waiting to see if China will respond to Taiwan’s concerns.
