Taiwan · China · Tom's Hardware
Crucial Taiwan undersea cable severed by old shipwreck, backup microwave communications activated to keep population connected
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Dongyin island, the northernmost part of Taiwan and located barely 30 miles from mainland China, has lost its undersea cable linking it to Beigan Island.
Key facts
- Taiwanese lawmakers even increased the penalty for those who are suspected of attempting to sabotage undersea cables, with offenders facing up to 7 years imprisonment plus a fine of $325,000
- Dongyin island, the northernmost part of Taiwan and located barely 30 miles from mainland China, has lost its undersea cable linking it to Beigan Island
- These two small islands are part of the Matsu Islands, which sit strategically at the northern part of the Taiwan Strait
- That in 2023, two undersea cables were cut by Chinese vessels, although it was determined that it was an accident and not a deliberate action
Summary
Even though the island is small and sparsely populated, the Taiwanese military reportedly has a heavy presence in the area owing to its proximity to China. Although this latest incident was caused by natural forces and not an action by a third-party actor, it still highlights Taiwan’s vulnerability in its connection to the rest of the world. Nevertheless, there have been recent incidents in which Chinese ships are suspected of deliberately damaging undersea internet cables around the main island. Undersea cables are crucial infrastructure as they connect nations to the internet.