Taiwan Increases 24-Hour Patrols Across 24 Undersea Cables Amid China-Linked Sabotage Threat

Taiwan has significantly increased patrols and surveillance around its 24 undersea cables, particularly focusing on the TP3 cable, after deliberate sabotage incidents linked to China-affiliated vessels. These undersea cables are vital for Taiwan's internet connectivity, economy, and military communications, making them a strategic target in China's gray-zone warfare aimed at draining Taiwan's resources without direct conflict. The Taiwan Coast Guard operates 24-hour patrols with technological aids such as alert systems detecting vessels approaching within one kilometer of critical cables, and has blacklisted 96 China-linked boats while monitoring nearly 400 others. Legal action has been taken against vessels involved in sabotage, including a Chinese captain sentenced to prison for intentionally severing the TP3 cable. Taiwan rejects China's territorial claims over the Taiwan Strait and continues collaborating with allied nations for intelligence sharing amid heightened regional tensions, especially following similar sabotage concerns in the Baltic Sea linked to Russia. Taiwan's intensified efforts underscore the growing threat posed by maritime gray-zone tactics targeting undersea infrastructure, which severely impact the island's stability and security.