Taiwan’s Undersea Cable Protection: Challenges and Solutions

By Chen Chih-yu and Shelley Shan / Staff reporters

Government Action Needed for Undersea Cable Protection

A recent report from the Legislative Yuan’s Research Bureau highlights the urgent need for Taiwan to establish a specific law managing the installation and protection of undersea cables. This law must be synchronized with international regulations to ensure robust control and prevention measures.

Incidents of Damage and Government Response

The resilience of Taiwan’s communications infrastructure was called into question after a Togo-flagged freighter, Hong Tai 58, allegedly damaged the No. 3 undersea cable connecting Taiwan proper and Penghu. Chunghwa Telecom, responsible for building and maintaining the cable, has gathered evidence and intends to seek restitution from the responsible party.

Additional Damages and Legal Challenges

Another incident involved the Cameroon-registered Shunxing-39, allegedly damaging undersea cables off the coast of the Port of Keelung in January. The bureau emphasized that investigations into such crimes should start with immediate arrests to preserve crucial evidence and avoid negligence accusations.

Challenges arise when appealing such cases internationally, especially for Taiwan, which is not a member of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. This convention mandates domestic laws criminalizing undersea cable damage, softening Taiwan’s stance in international waters.

Statistics and Ongoing Efforts

Undersea cables around Taiwan have faced damage seven to eight times per year in the last three years, often due to erosion, sand-pumping ships, and trawler boats. Some damages are suspected to be caused by large freighter anchoring or covert operations by flag-of-convenience vessels. The National Audit Office reported a spike to 12 cases in 2023.

Chunghwa Telecom has successfully repaired the No. 3 submarine cable connecting Taiwan and Lienchiang, but the Taiwan-Matsu No. 2 and Taiwan-Penghu No. 3 cables remain disconnected, scheduled for repair in the first half of the year. The company attributes the previous damages to natural deterioration.

Future Directions

To safeguard Taiwan’s communications infrastructure, it is crucial for the government to enact legislation aligned with international laws, reinforcing national and global cybersecurity resilience.

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