Taiwan Jails Chinese Captain for Subsea Cable Damage
Deliberate Act Severed Vital Link, Court Finds
A Chinese ship captain has been sentenced to three years in prison by a Taiwanese court for intentionally damaging an undersea telecommunications cable, disrupting service to the Penghu archipelago. The incident highlights growing concerns about infrastructure security in the region.
Intentional Damage Confirmed
The captain, identified as Wang, and his cargo vessel, the Hongtai, were detained in February following reports of a severed cable connecting the Penghu islands to mainland Taiwan. A district court in southern Taiwan determined that Wang directed crew members to drop anchor in a prohibited zone, despite knowing it risked damaging the subsea infrastructure.
The court’s judgement detailed how the ship drifted after the anchor failed to lodge in the seabed. By the time Taiwan’s coast guard intervened and ordered the anchor raised, the cable had been “completely severed.”
“The evidence was sufficient to find Wang’s ‘criminal conduct established’, adding that the punishment was ‘a warning’.”
—Court Statement
While Wang admitted negligence, he denied intentionally causing the damage. He retains the right to appeal the sentence. The repair costs to Chunghwa Telecom exceeded NT$17 million (US$578,000).
Growing Threat to Subsea Infrastructure
This case marks the first time a Chinese ship captain has faced charges for severing an undersea telecoms cable in Taiwan. The seven other crew members aboard the Hongtai will be deported without facing charges. Taiwan maintains a network of 14 international and 10 domestic underwater cables, crucial for its connectivity.
Recent years have seen a rise in incidents involving damaged subsea cables, often attributed to natural deterioration or, increasingly, the actions of vessels—particularly those linked to China. According to a 2024 report by the Council on Foreign Relations, approximately 99% of global internet traffic relies on these vulnerable undersea cables. Council on Foreign Relations Report
Increased Scrutiny of Chinese-Linked Vessels
Taiwan’s coast guard previously identified the Hongtai as one of 52 “suspicious” Chinese-owned ships operating under flags of convenience – including those from Mongolia, Cameroon, Tanzania, Togo, and Sierra Leone – and placed them under heightened surveillance. This incident is likely to intensify scrutiny of such vessels in the region.
The ruling sends a clear message regarding the protection of critical infrastructure and the consequences for deliberate damage to vital communication links. Further investigations are expected to determine if this incident was an isolated event or part of a broader pattern of activity.
