The cargo vessel Shunxing39, sailing under the flag of Cameroon, is suspected of damaging an undersea communication cable on January 3 near the port of Keelung in northeastern Taiwan, according to The Financial Times. The incident has sparked concerns in Taiwan over potential interference from China.
Taiwanese authorities reported that the ship is owned by the Hong Kong-based Jie Yang Trading Limited, whose director is a Chinese national. In response to the cable damage, Chunghwa Telecom, the affected telecommunications operator, swiftly rerouted digital data through alternative lines to minimize disruptions.
The vessel’s Automatic Identification System (AIS) and satellite data confirmed that Shunxing39 dragged its anchor along the seabed at the site of the cable break. However, adverse weather conditions prevented authorities from detaining the ship. Taiwan’s Coast Guard conducted only an external inspection and established radio communication with the captain. According to national security officials, the vessel is in a severely deteriorated condition, resembling ships from the so-called “shadow fleet.”
Taiwan has requested assistance from South Korea, as the ship’s next destination is Busan Port. The incident has heightened Taiwan’s apprehensions about potential Chinese attempts to compromise its critical infrastructure.
This event adds to a series of similar incidents. In December 2024, the Eslink 2 cable connecting Finland and Estonia was damaged in the Baltic Sea. The Finnish Coast Guard detained the tanker Eagle S, suspected of involvement in the breakage. In November 2024, cable disruptions between Lithuania, Sweden, Finland, and Germany raised alarms over the growing vulnerability of undersea infrastructure to damage.
