A Taiwanese court has sentenced the Chinese captain of a cargo ship to three years in prison for damaging undersea telecommunications cables off Taiwan’s southwestern coast, in a case that has heightened concerns over the vulnerability of the island’s critical infrastructure.
The Tainan District Court on Thursday found the captain, identified by his surname Wang, guilty of causing the damage in February when his vessel, the Hong Tai 58, dropped anchor near the cable routes. The ship, manned by a Chinese crew and registered in Togo, was detained by Taiwanese authorities shortly after the incident.
According to the court, Wang admitted ordering his crew to drop anchor but denied any intent to damage the cables, arguing instead that he had been negligent in his duties.
The court, however, ruled that Wang had allowed the vessel to drift into restricted waters, resulting in the anchor severing the cables. Wang retains the right to appeal the verdict.
The damage led to losses exceeding NT$17 million (approximately USD 576,000) for Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan’s largest telecom operator, which was responsible for repairing the cables.
The case has added to tensions between Taipei and Beijing. While Taiwan investigates multiple recent incidents of cable damage, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office has accused Taipei of “manipulating” the issue, saying authorities were casting blame on Chinese individuals before all facts were known. Beijing did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the court’s ruling.
Taiwanese prosecutors deported seven other crew members of the Hong Tai 58 after determining there was insufficient evidence to prosecute them.
The incident comes amid growing scrutiny over the security of Taiwan’s undersea cable network, which is vital for the island’s internet and communications.
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs, the island has reported five cases of undersea cable malfunctions so far this year, compared with three each in 2024 and 2023.
China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has frequently been accused by Taipei of using gray-zone tactics, including economic and cyber disruptions, to apply pressure on the self-ruled island.
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