Beijing: China has accused Taiwan of political manipulation after the island suggested possible Chinese involvement in the latest severing of an undersea communications cable. Beijing dismissed the allegations on Wednesday, saying Taiwan was casting blame without conclusive evidence.
Taiwan, which China claims as its territory, has frequently condemned what it calls “grey zone” tactics by Beijing—coercive activities designed to pressure Taipei without direct military confrontation. These tactics include balloon overflights, sand dredging, and, increasingly, disruptions to critical infrastructure.
Taiwan’s coast guard reported on Tuesday that it had detained a China-linked cargo ship near the location where an undersea cable to the Penghu Islands in the Taiwan Strait was disconnected. The incident has raised concerns over repeated damage to Taiwan’s communication links, which are vital for its global connectivity.
Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, downplayed the event, stating that undersea cable damage is a common maritime occurrence, with over a hundred such incidents reported globally each year.
“While the basic facts and the people responsible for the accident have not yet been clarified, the Democratic Progressive Party authorities have deliberately exaggerated the situation in an attempt at political manipulation, which will not enjoy popular support,” Zhu told reporters in Beijing, referring to Taiwan’s ruling party.
Taiwan has expressed growing alarm over potential Chinese interference with its infrastructure, drawing parallels between its experiences and damage to undersea cables in the Baltic Sea following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Taipei has also accused Chinese-linked vessels of flying “flags of convenience” from other countries to obscure their origins.
Last month, Taiwan’s government stated that Chinese ships using such deceptive tactics “have the mark of evil about them.”
Beyond the cable disruptions, Taiwan has also raised concerns over repeated patrols by China’s coast guard near the Kinmen Islands. These islands, controlled by Taiwan, are located just off the Chinese coast near Xiamen and Quanzhou.
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While Beijing insists that the patrols are routine law enforcement activities, Taiwan argues they have become a deliberate campaign of harassment. The patrols have increased since last year after two Chinese nationals drowned while fleeing Taiwan’s coast guard after their boat entered restricted waters near Kinmen.
Taiwan’s coast guard reported that Chinese coast guard missions in the area now occur on average four times per month.
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“An analysis of their sailing patterns shows that they have become ‘routine harassment’ not ‘law enforcement inspections’,” Taiwan’s coast guard said in a statement.
“This has not only affected the atmosphere across the Taiwan Strait but also undermines regional peace and stability.”
