Taiwan Probes Shunxin39 Freighter for Undersea Cable Damage, Seeks South Korea's Help Amid China Concerns

Jan 5, 2025, 12:24 PM

Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) is investigating a Cameroon-registered freighter, the Shunxin39, for allegedly damaging an undersea communications cable off the northeastern coast of Taiwan. The incident occurred on Friday, with the cable belonging to Chunghwa Telecom being affected. The Shunxin39, owned by Jie Yang Trading Limited, a Hong Kong-registered company with Guo Wenjie, a Chinese citizen, as its director, was operating in the area at the time of the damage. Taiwan has requested assistance from South Korea in the investigation, as the vessel is heading towards Pusan. Chunghwa Telecom confirmed that domestic communications were not affected due to backup systems, and services were quickly restored. The incident is suspected to be an act of sabotage, with Taiwan expressing concerns over China's potential involvement in disrupting its external communications.