Chinese Captain ‍Jailed for‍ Cutting⁢ Taiwan Undersea Cable

⁢ Updated June 12, 2025

A Chinese ship captain, identified as Wang, will serve three years in a Taiwanese⁣ prison after ⁤being convicted of deliberately severing‍ an undersea telecoms cable. The incident occurred off the coast of Taiwan, prompting a‍ costly repair effort and raising concerns about maritime⁤ activity in the region.⁤ This incident underscores the importance of undersea cable security and the potential impact of ⁣such damage.

Wang and his ship, the Hongtai, registered in Togo, were initially detained in February following the report of a cut cable linking the Penghu archipelago and Taiwan. A court in southern Taiwan found Wang guilty ⁤of violating the ‍Telecommunications Management Act. The court⁢ stated ⁢that Wang instructed two crew members to drop anchor in an area off southwestern Taiwan⁤ where‍ anchoring is prohibited ⁣due to ⁣the presence of‍ subsea cables. The anchor severed the cable before the Taiwan ⁣coast guard intervened.

While Wang admitted negligence, he denied intentionally damaging the cable. The court dismissed this claim, asserting that the evidence sufficiently demonstrated “criminal conduct” and that the sentence served as⁢ “a warning.”

The court said the evidence was sufficient to find ⁣Wang’s “criminal conduct ⁣established”, adding that the punishment was “a warning”.

Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan’s telecommunications provider, spent more⁤ then NT$17‍ million ‍(US$578,000) to‍ repair the severed undersea cable. Prosecutors noted that Wang is the frist Chinese captain⁤ charged with this crime. The remaining seven crew members face deportation‍ without⁣ charges. Taiwan relies on 14 ‍international ‍and 10 ⁢domestic underwater cables for its communications infrastructure. The⁣ incident highlights the ⁢vulnerability ⁢of these critical assets.

What’s ⁣next

The incident is likely to increase scrutiny of maritime activity near Taiwan’s undersea cables and may lead to enhanced ⁣monitoring and enforcement efforts to prevent future damage. Wang has the option to appeal the sentence.