Janice R. Andrews
Taiwan’s coast guard has detained eight Chinese crew members aboard a Togolese-flagged vessel suspected of cutting a vital undersea fiber optic cable that connects Taiwan and the Penghu islands.
The vessel, Hong Tai 168, had been operating in the vicinity of the Taiwan-Penghu No. 3 cable since February 22, according to Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration. Officials deployed a patrol vessel early Tuesday morning to order the ship to leave the area. The cable was confirmed severed hours later, leading to the crew’s arrest.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs has reassured the public that internet connectivity remains stable, as traffic has been successfully rerouted through alternative cables. Nevertheless, the Coast Guard has categorized the incident as a potential “gray zone” operation—a term describing provocative actions that fall short of outright warfare.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of escalating tensions between Taiwan and China. Recently, the United States removed language from State Department documentation that explicitly opposed Taiwanese independence, triggering protests from Beijing. While the U.S. continues to uphold its “One China” policy, it simultaneously maintains support for Taiwan’s defense capabilities.
Taiwanese authorities have launched an investigation into the cable-cutting incident amid growing concerns about China’s use of unconventional tactics in the region.
