Taiwan

China’s Cutting of Undersea Cables Tests Taiwan: Analysts

Beijing is leveraging sabotage of the island’s infrastructure as psychological warfare to gauge defensive resilience.
China’s Cutting of Undersea Cables Tests Taiwan: Analysts
An operator works during the mooring of an undersea fiber optic cable near Sopelana, Spain, on June 13, 2017. Ander Gillenea/AFP via Getty Images
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As the timeline for a hypothetical 2027 Chinese offensive against Taiwan approaches, analysts warn that Beijing will likely escalate the targeted severing of Taiwan’s undersea cables to erode public morale and incite panic.
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Dec. 24 criticized the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for engaging in “political manipulation” after Chinese authorities claimed Taiwanese nationals masterminded an operation involving a Chinese-crewed vessel that severed undersea cables, Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported.
Jarvis Lim
Jarvis Lim
Author
Jarvis Lim is a Taiwan-based writer focusing on human rights, U.S.–China relations, China's economic and political influence in Southeast Asia, and cross-strait relations.