Taiwan investigating Chinese vessel over damage to undersea cable

Summary

Taiwan is investigating the Chinese-owned vessel Shunxing 39 for suspected damage to a key undersea internet cable northeast of the island.

The vessel, registered in Cameroon but tied to a Hong Kong company, allegedly dragged its anchor over the cable, briefly disrupting services.

Taiwan’s coastguard attempted to detain the ship but was hindered by weather; the vessel later turned off tracking systems and sailed to South Korea.

Authorities suspect potential sabotage amid ongoing tensions with China, which has been linked to similar incidents near Taiwan and Europe.