TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The National Security Bureau (NSB, 國安局) on Tuesday (Jan. 14) analyzed the recent incident of a China-linked cargo ship allegedly damaging an undersea cable as a potential new threat from foreign adversaries. The incident has raised concerns over China's "gray zone" activities, and the NSB reported that the Cameroon-flagged vessel, "SHUNXIN39," likely operates under Chinese interests, given its unusual navigation patterns.
The Legislative Yuan's Foreign and National Defense Committee (立法院外交及國防委員會) plans to convene on Thursday (Jan. 16) to discuss fortifying Taiwan's cable resilience with NSB Director Tsai Ming-yen (蔡明彥), Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄), and the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC, 陸委會). Taiwan maintains 14 international and 10 domestic cables, with recent incidents highlighting the need for enhanced security.
The NSB outlined four scenarios for cable damage, including sand dredging, trawling, anchoring by large vessels, and covert operations by convenience ships. According to international law, third-country vessels may claim "innocent passage," yet this has become a novel gray zone threat, according to the NSB.
The NSB recommended increased patrols, diverse communication backups, and international cooperation. The government, through the National Communications and Cyber Security Center (NCCSC, 國家通訊暨網際安全中心), has established a 24-hour reporting mechanism for network operations. The NSB will prioritize "Port State Control" (港口國管制) inspections for vessels with a history of false declarations to prevent misinformation at Taiwanese ports.
