Taiwan has called on South Korea to assist in investigating a Chinese-owned cargo vessel suspected of damaging a subsea communication cable off Taiwan’s northern coast on January 3. The vessel, identified as Shunxing39, reportedly caused the damage near Keelung Port, according to Taiwan’s Chunghwa Telecom and the Taiwan Coast Guard.
The incident adds to growing concerns over maritime security, following similar cases in the Baltic Sea where critical fiber optic cables were damaged last November. Taiwan fears that such disruptions could be part of a larger strategy by Beijing to weaken its communication infrastructure, given China’s longstanding claims over the island.
Shunxing39, which operates under Cameroon’s flag, is owned by Hong Kong-registered Jie Yang Trading Limited. The company’s sole director, Guo Wenjie, is a Chinese national. Tracking data indicates that the vessel dragged its anchor at the location where the cable was ruptured. However, Taiwanese authorities were unable to board the ship due to adverse weather conditions.
The damaged cable is part of the Trans-Pacific Express Cable System, which links Taiwan to the U.S. and is co-owned by international telecom giants, including AT&T, NTT, and China Telecom.
Taiwanese officials have urged South Korea to investigate the vessel at its next scheduled port of call in Busan. A national security official highlighted that the ship had been navigating suspiciously near Taiwan’s northern waters since December, suggesting the damage was not accidental.
As China continues its military activities near Taiwan, Taipei remains concerned about Beijing’s use of commercial vessels in “grey zone” operations—hostile actions that stop short of direct warfare. The latest incident reinforces fears of escalating maritime tensions in the region.
