Detention of Chinese Crew Following Undersea Cable Damage in Strategic Taiwanese Waters

In recent events, the Taiwan coast guard detained the Chinese-crewed cargo ship Hong Tai 168 after it was discovered loitering 925 meters from an undersea cable connecting Taiwan and Penghu Islands. The undersea cable was severed, prompting the detention. This occurrence on February 22 highlights a series of cable-cutting incidents near Taiwan, sparking worries about potential gray zone activities by China. Fortunately, backup systems prevented any communication disruptions, but the situation underscores vulnerabilities in Taiwan's essential infrastructure.