Taiwan Detains Chinese Crewed Vessel Suspected of Severing Undersea Cable

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Taiwanese authorities are investigating a potential "gray zone" operation by China after detaining the Chinese crew of a vessel suspected of cutting an undersea fiber optic cable linking Taiwan and the Penghu islands. The vessel, registered under Togo and named Hong Tai 168, was intercepted by Taiwan's coast guard (CGA) on Tuesday following suspicions of its involvement in the severance.

BREAKING:

The Taiwanese coast guard is boarding the Chinese-owned vessel ”Hong Tai” after it was caught destroying an undersea telecommunications cable between Taiwan & its Kinmen island near China.

The crew, which is all Chinese, is being detained and taken to Taiwan.

🇨🇳🇹🇼 pic.twitter.com/gDSqzUAr05

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) February 25, 2025

 

According to the CGA, the Hong Tai 168 had been lingering within approximately 925 meters of the cable since 7 p.m. local time on February 22. In response to its presence, a coast guard vessel was deployed at 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday, issuing a demand for the ship to vacate the area. Shortly thereafter, at 3 a.m., coast guard officials confirmed that the Taiwan-Penghu No. 3 undersea cable had been severed. Authorities then moved swiftly to detain the vessel’s eight-member crew, all of whom are Chinese nationals.

 

Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs assured the public that the incident did not lead to a disruption in communication services, as data traffic was promptly rerouted through alternative cables. Nevertheless, the coast guard has classified the event as a possible "gray zone" activity—a term referring to aggressive actions that fall short of open warfare.

 

The Taiwanese government has vowed to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

 

This development coincides with recent diplomatic tensions between China and the United States regarding Taiwan’s political status. Last week, Chinese officials voiced discontent over changes made to the U.S. State Department’s website, which removed language explicitly opposing Taiwan's independence. The omission, which first occurred under the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump, led Chinese authorities to demand that the U.S. "immediately correct its wrongdoing," stating that the change "sends a wrong signal to the Taiwan independence forces."

 

In response, the U.S. State Department affirmed in a statement to NBC News that its stance on Taiwan’s independence remains unchanged.

As Taiwan continues to investigate the severed cable incident, questions persist regarding whether this was a deliberate act of sabotage or an accident. The situation adds another layer of complexity to cross-strait relations, which have been increasingly strained amid rising geopolitical tensions.

 

Based on a report by USA Today  2025-02-27