TAIPEI: For the first time, Taiwanese authorities have formally charged a Chinese ship captain for allegedly damaging critical undersea communication cables near the island, a move that comes amid mounting concerns over Chinese "grey zone" tactics.
The captain, identified only by the surname Wang, was in command of the Hong Tai 58, a vessel with a Chinese crew but registered under the Togolese flag. The ship was detained by Taiwan’s authorities after it was believed to have dropped anchor near a submarine cable off Taiwan’s southwest coast in February, causing significant damage.
Tainan prosecutors announced on Friday that Wang has been charged for deliberately damaging the undersea infrastructure. Although he maintains his innocence, prosecutors noted that he refused to provide information about the ship’s ownership and showed what they described as an "uncooperative attitude."
Seven other Chinese crew members detained alongside Wang will not face prosecution and are set to be repatriated to China. This marks the first instance of Taiwan pursuing legal action over damage to its vital submarine cables.
The incident adds to a growing list of cable disruptions—five reported in 2025 so far—raising red flags for Taiwanese authorities who have ramped up security measures. The coast guard is now monitoring a watchlist of nearly 100 China-linked vessels that are registered under third-party flags.
In a previous January case, Taiwan also suspected a Chinese-affiliated vessel of damaging a cable off its northern coast, though the owner denied involvement.
Beijing has yet to respond to the latest charges. In earlier statements, Chinese officials accused Taiwan of politicizing such incidents without conclusive evidence, dismissing them as part of a broader campaign to discredit China.
Taiwan sees these actions as part of China's escalating "grey zone" strategy, which involves coercive activities short of open conflict—such as unauthorized overflights and maritime provocations. Officials in Taipei have also drawn parallels between the recent cable damage and similar incidents in the Baltic Sea following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, pointing to growing concerns about hybrid warfare in maritime domains.
