A Chinese national has been sentenced to three years in prison for damaging an undersea cable connecting Taiwan’s main island and the Penghu islands in the Taiwan Strait. The captain, identified as Mr. Wang, was found guilty of intentionally damaging the cable, which “seriously interferes with the government and society’s operations,” according to the court.
The Tainan District Court’s verdict marks the first sentencing after reports of undersea cables around Taiwan being severed in recent years.
The incident occurred in February when Taiwan’s coast guard spotted the Hong Tai 58, a Togolese-registered vessel crewed by eight Chinese nationals, anchored off the island’s southern coast. After the ship departed, an undersea cable in the area was found severed.
The coast guard escorted the vessel back to Taiwan for investigation, and Mr. Wang was charged with violating Taiwan’s Telecommunications Management Act. During the trial, Mr. Wang claimed that rough waters made navigation tricky, and he instructed the crew to drop the anchor without knowing the area contained undersea cables.
However, prosecutors argued that Mr. Wang had intentionally damaged the cable, pointing to electronic charts on the ship clearly showing the cable’s location. The damaged section of the cable matched the ship’s anchoring location and showed signs of being snagged by an external force.
Prosecutor Hsu Shu Han described the vessel as “highly suspicious,” citing its poor condition and limited cargo records. Mr. Wang’s phone records showed no links to Chinese authorities, and there was no direct evidence proving the crew acted under Chinese government orders.
The tensions between Taiwan and China have escalated over the past year, with Taiwanese President William Lai adopting a tough stance against Beijing. China has held regular drills around Taiwan to simulate a blockade of the island.
Taiwan has accused Beijing of sabotaging its cables as a “grey zone” tactic to pressure the self-ruled island, which China claims as its territory. China has denied involvement, calling the incidents “common maritime accidents” that have been “exaggerated” by Taiwanese authorities.
Undersea cables carry nearly all of the world’s internet traffic, and Taiwan has 10 domestic and 14 international undersea cables. Herming Chiueh, deputy minister of Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs, emphasized the importance of protecting critical infrastructure, saying, “Some scholars have said that World War III could begin with the cutting of undersea cables. I think that’s quite realistic.”