The first week of 2025 began with the severing of a new undersea cable in Taiwan, allegedly by China. Recently, such incidents have escalated from isolated cases to a broader pattern. Another cable was cut near Taiwan’s “neighbor,” prompting the island to call on the U.S. for support.
The broken cables. Taiwan has recorded its fourth submarine cable outage this year, surpassing three incidents in 2024. The latest cutoff severed the last link to the Matsu Islands, just a week after the other cable serving the area was damaged.
For now, Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs attributes most outages to natural wear and tear. However, it has also noted an increase in incidents involving fishing boats, highlighting growing vulnerabilities in critical telecommunications infrastructure.
Critical cables on an island. More than 99% of Taiwan’s external communications rely on submarine cables, emphasizing their importance to economic stability and national security. The recent outages have fueled concerns amid tensions with China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has ramped up maritime activities in the region.
In recent months, China has conducted its largest naval deployments in decades off Taiwan’s coast—a “show of force” that has heightened fears of blockades or attacks targeting the island’s communications.
Response strategies. To address these challenges, Taiwan is prioritizing alternative communications technologies, including low-orbit satellites such as Amazon’s Kuiper project and high-altitude balloons to maintain connectivity during emergencies.
Still, submarine cables remain the most efficient means of global data transmission, carrying over 90% of international telecommunications traffic.
Immediate action. According to Nikkei, state-owned Chunghwa Telecom has established a microwave transmission and satellite communications system to mitigate the Matsu Islands’ isolation. The islands are home to about 14,000 residents.
Authorities expect to repair the damaged cables by the end of February. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense plans to strengthen surveillance of submarine cable areas by implementing systems to monitor vessels with suspicious routes or behavior.
U.S. involvement: an unprecedented measure. Amid the cable-cutting incidents, Taiwan announced a significant development. The Ministry of Defense revealed a two-year agreement with the U.S. to train Taiwan’s navy, just as the island’s parliament considers potential budget cuts for overseas military training.
The agreement, worth about 50 million New Taiwan dollars ($1.5 million), brings U.S. Navy personnel to Taiwan to lead specialized naval training programs. These sessions will occur at the Taiwan Navy and Marine Corps Headquarters in Zuoying District, near Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan.
Agreement details and implications. The Taiwan Navy and the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto U.S. diplomatic mission, signed the agreement. The government’s procurement platform notice didn’t disclose the rank or number of U.S. personnel involved, but the training will conclude by the end of 2026.
For the first time, Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense has publicly acknowledged U.S. military trainers’ presence—a notable departure from its longstanding policy of secrecy aimed at avoiding strong reactions from Beijing.
Three nations in conflict. The announcement coincides with a key moment in geopolitics, as President Donald Trump begins his return to the White House—a development likely to intensify tensions between Washington and Beijing. China opposes any military cooperation between Taiwan and third parties, viewing it as a threat to its sovereignty.
Military cooperation between Taiwan and the U.S. has historically been low-profile to minimize the risk of Chinese retaliation. This new public announcement signals a more overt approach by Taipei and Washington.
Background: invasion concerns. The U.S.-backed naval drills are part of Taiwan’s broader efforts to bolster maritime defenses against potential Chinese aggression. The island is modernizing its naval fleet, acquiring advanced technologies, and enhancing asymmetric warfare capabilities to deter an invasion.
Cooperation with the U.S. remains critical in improving Taiwan’s tactical and operational readiness, especially amid concerns over a possible maritime blockade by China.
Image | Taiwan Presidential Office
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