Taiwan Faces Cable Sabotage: Chinese Captain Indicted in Undersea Incident

A Togolese-Registered Vessel and Alleged Intentional Damage to Taiwan's Vital Communication Link

Tainan, Taiwan - April 11th - Tainan prosecutors have formally charged the Chinese captain of a Togolese-registered vessel in connection with the severing of an undersea communication cable connecting Taiwan and Penghu. The prosecution is seeking a prison sentence for the captain, identified only by his last name, Wang (王).

The indictment, announced by the Tainan District Prosecutors Office on Friday, alleges that Wang violated the Telecommunications Management Act. The incident involved the freighter "Hong Tai," which was boarded and its Chinese crew detained by Taiwanese authorities on February 25th.

The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) acted after receiving a report from Chunghwa Telecom regarding damage to the "Taiwan-Penghu No. 3" submarine fiber optic cable. According to the CGA, the "Hong Tai," under Wang's command and crewed by seven others, had been present in the area since February 22nd.

Prosecutors allege that Wang instructed his crew to drop anchor five nautical miles west of Beimen District in Tainan County, and to sail in a zigzag pattern around the No. 3 cable, in a suspected act of sabotage. The vessel's electronic navigational chart clearly displayed the location of the undersea cables in Taiwanese waters, including the No. 3 cable, located in a no-anchor zone.

The submarine cable, essential for both telephone and broadband communication, is situated in a government-designated area where anchoring is strictly forbidden. Wang remains in custody, while the seven crew members are detained by the CGA, awaiting deportation, as they have not been charged due to insufficient evidence.

Despite the charges, the captain has denied any wrongdoing and has refused to disclose the identity of the ship's owner, who authorities believe may have orchestrated the act. Under Article 72 of the Telecommunications Management Act, individuals who jeopardize the operation of a submarine cable face a minimum of one year to a maximum of seven years in prison, along with potential fines of up to NT$10 million (approximately US$305,210).

The case is scheduled to be heard by the Tainan District Court.