Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs has said that undersea cables to the Matsu Islands, located near China’s coast, were severed due to “natural deterioration,” prompting the activation of back-up communications.
Government officials said that two cables connecting Matsu with the main Taiwan island were completely disconnected on Wednesday and were expected to be restored before February end.
Back-up communications including microwave communications have been activated, they said.
This could allow internet services to partially resume in the islands, where around 14,000 people live.
‘Natural Deterioration’
Deputy Digital Minister Chiueh Herming told media persons in a briefing that no “suspicious” ships were detected when the cables went offline.
He said that “natural deterioration” was the likely cause, but added that cases of ships damaging Taiwan’s sea cables were on the rise in the recent years.
Chiueh said that in the New Year, Taiwan had reported four cases of malfunctions in sea cables, compared to three in 2024 and 2023 respectively.
Disruptions to undersea cables have been a particularly alarming issue for Taiwan given it has repeatedly complained about “grey zone” Chinese activities around the island, designed to pressure it without direct confrontation, such as balloon overflights and sand dredging.
Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, said this month that a Chinese-linked ship was suspected of damaging a cable to the north of the island, although the ship’s owner has denied involvement.
China’s government has said that Taiwan was making up accusations before the facts were clear.
Taiwan Warns Of Navy Response
Taiwan, whose government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, said following the incident that it will dispatch its navy if needed to help the coast guard respond to any suspicious activity near undersea communication cables.
In 2023, two undersea cables connecting Matsu islands were cut, disconnecting the internet.
Taiwan authorities said that two Chinese vessels caused the disruption, but that there was no evidence Beijing deliberately tampered with the cables.
Taiwan has since worked to boost its communication resilience for emergencies including a conflict with China, such as a trial programme to use low-Earth orbit satellites for remote areas including Matsu.
(With inputs from Reuters)
