Many nations are carefully avoiding Taiwanese subsea cables in the Indo-Pacific in light of growing concerns about espionage and political control.
Challenges surrounding deepwater cables – fiber optic cables laid on the lake ground, used for transmitting data across continents in the Indo-Pacific – are deeply entangled with political, technical, and security issues.
Subsea cables are essential for global contacts, transmitting over , 97 % of global data, including online traffic, monetary transactions, and state communications. The modern economy’s foundation is made up of this crucial infrastructure, making it both a source of contention and a critical asset.
Disruptions, proper or natural, impact local economies heavily reliant on quick and secure internet connectivity, particularly post-pandemic, and underscore the important political and operational hurdles faced by the global subsea cable industry.
Geopolitical repercussions
While undersea landslides, tsunamis, and natural disasters can shift the bottom and cause significant damage to subsea cable networks, intentional sabotage is a more urgent issue.
Strategic disruptions, such as the deliberate trimming of cables, can remove countries or regions and have significant repercussions affecting international trade, economic markets, and important military and economic data flows. Various strategies can be used to gain proper leverage without compromising cables include espionage and data intercept.
Recent , reports , indicate that Chinese wire repair ships may get involved in tampering with foreign cords. Subsea cables are thought to be the source of nearby to$ 10 trillion in daily monetary transactions. Similarly, proper control over these wires is important, with problems potentially impacting , gas, electricity, and data , significantly .
Subsea cables ‘ deliberate targeting can be used as a hybrid warfare strategy where both state and non-state players use unconventional means of achieving strategic goals. In political conflicts, for instance, using intentional cable cutting as a coercive measure can be used to put pressure on without using blatant military force.
This tactic can impair administrative stability and economic stability, which shows how geopolitics and technology intersect in contemporary conflicts.  , In April 2024, for example, wires connecting Taiwan’s Matsu Island were cut, reportedly by Chinese vessels.
The disturbance immediately caused the local community to be cut off from access to the internet and telephone services, demonstrating the potential for regional strategic isolation as a result of this behavior.
The broader suggestion is the risk of Taiwan’s communications facilities, which could be a forerunner to more intensive strategies to destroy Taiwan’s stability.
Taiwan’s significant role in the world’s semiconductor industry could have a negative impact on global supply chains, affecting industries globally, and possibly causing a backlash from multinational corporations and global markets.
If cables are cut as a result of a military operation or as a result, tensions will escalate significantly and there could be a defense issue, especially with nations that have safety commitments to Taiwan.
Circumventing China’s deepwater sites
More than 20 wires connected to Chinese firms have been operating in the Indo-Pacific region between 2021 and 2026, despite ongoing efforts to reduce reliance on Chinese deepwater sites.
There are restrictions on the restrictions that can be imposed on subsurface cables, an area where Taiwanese companies now dominate, in contrast to the US’s export controls that have slowed down Chinese manufacturing and development by years.
Also, while China’s deepwater cables share similar vulnerabilities, the risk of intentional disruption or spy emanating from China toward different countries is higher.
In recent years, subsea cables have played a crucial role in the , technology competition  , between the US and China. Washington has taken steps like Team Telecom to prevent Chinese companies from obtaining contracts, and it has intervened in several projects, including the Southeast Asia-Middle East-Western Europe 6 cable.
These efforts include granting Chinese companies financial incentives for their cable projects and imposing sanctions on Chinese companies, which would address concerns about potential espionage and security risks posed by Chinese-controlled infrastructure. Retaliatory measures from Beijing have been slammed for these actions, including cable approval delays.
For example, the , Southeast Asia-Japan 2 cable project, involving Singtel, Meta, and Japan’s KDDI, has been delayed due to slow permit approvals from Chinese authorities, citing national security concerns. Projects like the Apricot and Echo cables, for instance, are being developed to connect key regions , while avoiding the South China Sea, albeit at higher costs due to longer and more complex routes.
Countries like Japan, Australia and the US enhance subsea cable security through partnerships, regulatory measures, and strategic investments. Japan has  , proactively secured , its subsea cable infrastructure through partnerships with the US, Australia and Canada.
Japanese businesses are significant players in the sector, and the nation supports international laws to safeguard these assets. In its bilateral andnbsp, Digital Economy Agreements with Australia and the UK, Singapore has included rules governing subsea cables. To ensure secure data flows, these standards include criteria for screening and certifying cable vendors, and they may also serve as a reference point for similar initiatives.
The Philippines is set to become a key data hub with several upcoming cable projects, such as , Apricot, Bifrost, PLCN, and CAP-1, featuring landing points in the country. These new connections will increase the diversity of the route and lower the latency of data transmission between North and South America and Southeast Asia. To promote connectivity and economic growth, Indonesia and Malaysia are expanding their subsea cable infrastructure.
By engaging in regional forums on cable security while maintaining a balance between their relations with China and other world powers, these nations attempt to navigate geopolitical tensions. Through strategic partnerships and joint investments, Australia has focused on cybersecurity and developing emergency plans.
To leverage its tech industry, South Korea, a key player in the global telecommunications network, has addressed the , growing demand , for high-speed and reliable internet connectivity. For example, KT Corporation is developing a , 5.6k-mile , subsea cable across the Indo-Pacific region with Savills Korea, connecting to countries like Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore.
In addressing these issues, multilateral cooperation is of utmost importance. Regional partnerships like the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue are focusing on securing these critical infrastructures to counterbalance China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific through joint investments, sharing best practices for cybersecurity, and developing contingency plans for disruptions .
Additionally,  , organizations , like the International Cable Protection Committee offer platforms for stakeholders to discuss security issues and enhance accountability mechanisms .
Strong security measures must also be implemented through international cooperation. This , includes , deploying advanced monitoring systems to detect and respond to cable damages quickly, fortifying cables with protective sheathing, and establishing protocols for rapid repairs.
Additionally, strategic redundancy, where multiple cables provide alternative routes for data transmission, is crucial to ensure continuity in case of disruptions. Therefore, countries and organizations generally adopt four different strategies to deal with these disruptions: diversification of routes, strengthening international cooperation and coordinated response plans, developing advanced monitoring systems and establishing protocols for quick repairs, and putting together stringent rules to ensure secure data flows.
Addressing these issues will be crucial for the region’s future as the demand for high-speed internet and digital connectivity grows.
Pratnashree Basu , ( pratnashree@orfonline .org ) is an Associate Fellow with the Strategic Studies Program and Centre for New Economic Diplomacy, Observer Research Foundation, India.
First published by Pacific Forum, this article is republished with permission. Read the original here.