TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) highlighted the recently frequent undersea cable damages, urging government ministries to enhance vigilance and bolster backup systems on Thursday (Feb. 27). Cho claimed that it is necessary to exercise judicial control over the "Hongtai" (宏泰).
The Tainan District Prosecutors Office (台南地檢署) has detained the Chinese captain of the "Hongtai" vessel, which is allegedly suspected of severing the third submarine cable between Taiwan and Penghu.
The Executive Yuan spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) conveyed Cho's concerns regarding recent Chinese military drills near Kaohsiung, which have crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the air, posing threats to international aviation and maritime safety.
Cho emphasized that the Ministry of National Defense (MND, 國防部) has condemned China's actions, demanding continuous monitoring of the Taiwan Strait situation. He called on China to exercise restraint and instructed the military to remain vigilant to maintain regional peace and stability.
Hongtai, a Togolese-flagged cargo vessel funded by the Chinese investment, was suspected to be attributed to the damage of the third undersea cable connecting Taiwan and Pengu and captured by the CGA on Monday (Feb. 25). Chungwa Telecom has embarked on the repairing process.
The investigation of this incident is led by the Tainan District Prosecutors Office incident at the national security level.
