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Chinese Barge Suspected of Damaging Taiwan-Matsu Undersea Telecom Cable

A Chinese-flagged work barge, the Hai Hong Gong 66, is suspected of damaging the Taiwan-Matsu Subsea Cable No. 3 during a salvage operation to remove a stranded fishing vessel. Taiwanese authorities detained 11 crew members and questioned the captain, handing the case to prosecutors for investigation. Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs confirmed that only part of the cable was affected and communication services continue after traffic was rerouted. Repair work by a specialized vessel is expected to be completed no earlier than July 2026.

Key Points: Chinese Barge Damages Taiwan-Matsu Subsea Cable, Crew Detained

  • Chinese barge suspected of cable damage
  • 11 crew members detained for questioning
  • Communications rerouted, services uninterrupted
  • Underwater inspection and repair planned by July 2026
2 min read

Chinese barge suspected of damaging Taiwan-Matsu Subsea Cable during salvage mission

A Chinese salvage barge is suspected of damaging a key Taiwan-Matsu undersea cable. Crew detained, investigation ongoing. Services remain uninterrupted.

"only a portion of the cable's core wires had been affected and that communication services remained uninterrupted - Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs"

Taipei, April 2

A Chinese-flagged work barge is suspected of having damaged an undersea telecommunications cable near Dongyin, part of Taiwan-administered Matsu Islands, during a salvage mission.

Authorities said on Wednesday that the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) has questioned the vessel's captain, according to a report by the Central News Agency.

The vessel, Hai Hong Gong 66, had been operating late on March 30 to remove a stranded Chinese fishing boat, Min Lian Yu 63896, when it allegedly caused partial damage to the core wires of the Taiwan-Matsu Subsea Cable No. 3, as per the CGA's Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Branch.

The CGA stated it received a report on March 31 from Chunghwa Telecom about a malfunction in the Dongyin-Beigan section of the cable, which was suspected to have resulted from the vessel's operations, the report noted.

A patrol vessel was promptly deployed to gather evidence and board the barge. Authorities detained 11 crew members involved in the operation, while the captain was brought ashore for questioning.

The case has now been handed over to the Lienchiang District Prosecutors' Office for further investigation. According to the CGA, the fishing vessel Min Lian Yu 63896 had earlier taken on water and was abandoned by its crew, who were later rescued and returned to China.

The abandoned vessel later drifted to shore near Dongyin on March 21. Its owner then hired Hai Hong Gong 66 to carry out removal operations beginning March 30, the CGA added. Authorities said they will continue tracking the movements of Hai Hong Gong 66, while Chunghwa Telecom conducts underwater inspections to assess the scale and cause of the damage, according to the report.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs stated that only a portion of the cable's core wires had been affected and that communication services remained uninterrupted after traffic was rerouted. The ministry added that it has coordinated with a repair vessel to undertake restoration work, which is expected to be completed no earlier than July 2026.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Accidents happen during salvage, but the delay in repair until 2026 is concerning! 😳 That's over two years. Shows how vulnerable our undersea networks are. Authorities need better contingency plans and faster response teams for such critical assets.
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Rohit P
From an Indian perspective, we understand the strategic importance of undersea cables. The Strait is a busy waterway. There should be clear international protocols and real-time monitoring to prevent such damage. Glad to hear services weren't disrupted though.
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Ananya R
The vessel owner who hired the barge should also be held accountable. Why wasn't the cable location properly marked or communicated before starting salvage? This seems like a preventable error. Proper coordination is a must.
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Sarah B
Interesting to see the prompt response from the Coast Guard. Detaining the crew and starting an investigation quickly is the right step. Hope it remains a technical and legal issue, not a political one. The focus should be on securing infrastructure.
K
Karthik V
The repair timeline is the real shocker. July 2026? That's unacceptable for a partial damage. Chunghwa Telecom and the ministry need to explain why it takes so long. In today's tech age, we need faster solutions. This affects people's lives and businesses.

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