Taiwan Probes Suspected Sabotage of Undersea Cable by Shunxin-39, Seeks South Korea's Help

Jan 5, 2025, 05:10 PM

Taiwan is investigating a suspected act of sabotage involving the damage of an undersea cable near its northeastern coast, which authorities attribute to a Cameroon-registered cargo ship, the Shunxin-39. The incident occurred on January 3, when Chunghwa Telecom reported damage to a four-core undersea cable near Yehliu, New Taipei. Despite the damage, domestic communications were unaffected due to backup systems. The Taiwan Coast Guard Administration (CGA) located the Shunxin-39 seven nautical miles north of Yehliu and ordered it to return for investigation, though adverse weather conditions prevented boarding. Taiwanese officials suspect the vessel is owned by a Hong Kong-based company with ties to mainland China. The incident has been referred to prosecutors for further investigation, and Taiwan has sought assistance from South Korea, where the ship is heading. This event is seen as part of a broader pattern of maritime sabotage, raising concerns over the security of critical undersea infrastructure.