IN-DEPTH / IN-DEPTH
GT investigates: Experts warn against politicizing submarine cable incidents, stressing China’s role in protecting undersea cables
Politics at sea
Editor's Note:
As the pace of global submarine communication cable construction accelerates, conflicts between increasingly busy international shipping routes and densely laid cable lines have increased. Every year, multiple incidents of submarine cable faults caused by vessel activity occur worldwide. This calls for stronger international cooperation to enhance the protection and maintenance of these critical infrastructures. However, in recent years, some Western countries have politically exploited submarine cable failures, launching narrative attacks on other nations. China, as an emerging power in global shipping and the submarine cable industry, has become one of the targets of these "pan-politicized" accusations.
The Global Times will publish two issues of investigation which will reveal, from the perspectives of technology and narrative, why some Western politicians and media outlets are eager to smear China for "disrupting submarine cables" and "stealing intelligence." The investigation shows that the Chinese government and enterprises attach great importance to the safety of international submarine cable operations. In fact, China has become an important force in maintaining the normal operation of global submarine cables.
The Chinese bulk carrier was being monitored by Danish naval patrol vessels as European authorities continued to investigate the potential sabotage, the Business Insider reported in November 2024. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius claimed that the "anchor-dragging incident" in November 2024 was an act of "sabotage." The Swedish state prosecutor, Henrik S?derman, said he had launched a preliminary investigation into the incident, which was currently classified as "sabotage," the Wall Street Journal reported.
However, months later, US and European officials said that the evidence gathered to date - including intercepted communications and other classified intelligence - points to accidents caused by inexperienced crews serving aboard poorly maintained vessels, the Washington Post reported.
Despite this revelation, some Western media outlets' smear campaigns against China over submarine cable issues have not ceased. Earlier this year, after a cable rupture off the northeastern coast of Taiwan island, the incident was linked by BBC and some Western media outlets to the Yi Peng 3 case. The narrative spun was to claim that Chinese vessels intentionally damage submarine cables as part of a "gray zone warfare strategy."
This kind of defamation is hardly "new." In recent years, some Western media outlets have continuously amplified the false "China sabotaging submarine cables" narrative. Whenever a ship damages an undersea cable, any "Chinese connection" - be it Chinese crew members, ownership, or corporate background - is portrayed as "evidence" of deliberate sabotage.
Submarine cables, encompassing both communication fiber optics and power cables, are the backbone of global connectivity. Submarine cables carry over 99 percent of international data exchanges, according to the International Telecommunication Union. Despite advances in satellite technology, submarine cables remain the lifeline of global communication, underpinning the digital economy. Given their critical role, cable disruptions can cause incalculable losses - making accusations of "deliberate sabotage" highly inflammatory and damaging to China's international reputation, analysts said.
However, experts point out that while the public recognizes the importance of submarine cables, the sensationalized narratives surrounding "Chinese vessels sabotaging cables" thrives due to widespread misconceptions. Contrary to some Western media outlets' selective reporting on "Chinese-linked" incidents, most cable faults are caused by non-Chinese vessels - yet these rarely make headlines. Moreover, deliberately severing a submarine cable is technically challenging. Numerous studies confirm that the vast majority of cable damage incidents are accidental, not intentional.
"According to the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), there are about 200 submarine cable faults annually, with over 80 percent caused by ship anchors, fishing trawlers, or unidentified human activities," Mou Chunbo, chief engineer at the Industry and Planning Research Institute at the China Academy of Information and Communication Technology (CAICT), told the Global Times.
He noted that investigating submarine cable damage is highly challenging due to difficulties in tracking responsible vessels, especially in remote waters where ships can quickly flee. Jurisdictional complexities in territorial seas and exclusive economic zones further delay evidence collection, making such probes lengthy and complex.
Mou criticized some Western nations for hastily blaming Chinese ships based solely on proximity or automatic identification system (AIS) data, calling such claims "irresponsible." "Those accusations are unfounded. Any vessel passing through the area could be responsible. Factors like anchor slippage or harsh sea conditions often lead to accidental damage," he said, noting that jumping to conclusions without evidence reflects a political agenda rather than facts.
"From a technical perspective, the accusation in those Western media reports that 'Chinese vessels intentionally damaged submarine cables' is fundamentally untenable." A person in charge of a Chinese domestic submarine cable maintenance company told the Global Times that it is actually quite difficult for a commercial vessel to deliberately sever a submarine cable. "First, it is challenging to accurately locate the cable's position. Additionally, even if a large anchor is dragged during navigation, it is difficult to precisely cut the cable in a single pass."
"According to industry investigations into cable damage cases, many vessels that caused such damage were in an uncontrolled state caused by severe weather and sea conditions. These ships repeatedly swayed near the cables, deviating from their preset routes, ultimately leading to the cables being severed by anchors," he said.
A maritime official recently told the Global Times that over the past decade, Chinese maritime authorities have handled more than 20 cases of submarine cable damage caused by commercial or cargo vessels around the world. Investigations revealed that these incidents were accidental, with no evidence of intentional sabotage.
"Based on our analysis, there are three common scenarios for vessel-related cable damage," the official pointed out. The first scenario is that when navigating in areas with submarine cables, ships may experience accidental anchor detachment due to severe weather or rough sea conditions. The anchor could then snag the cable, and the massive dragging force generated by large vessels heaving in waves can ultimately sever the cable, the official explained.
He further revealed that the second scenario is when ships anchor in areas with submarine cables without confirming the safety of the anchoring zone or understanding the seabed layout. Anchoring or raising the anchor in such cases may hook and potentially damage the cables.
In addition, there is also a situation in which the crew's improper operation of the vessel leads to the damage of submarine cables. The official said that the previous investigation found that the lack of safety awareness and operational skills among individual crew members could lead to instances of ships damaging submarine cables.
Commitment to submarine cable protection
The Global Times learned that the Chinese government and enterprises have always highly prioritized the operational safety of international submarine cables. Various measures have been adopted to minimize damage to cables caused by fishing, shipping, and other activities. Authorities also swiftly mobilize resources to expedite the repair of damaged cables, ensuring unimpeded international submarine cable communications.
On March 25, the Industry and Planning Research Institute at the CAICT released a report on China's participation in the construction and protection of international communication submarine cables.
The report highlights China's established comprehensive legal framework to provide robust institutional safeguards for international submarine cables transiting its jurisdictional waters. Maritime authorities such as the China Coast Guard and China Marine Surveillance have strengthened patrols and law enforcement at sea. These efforts include promptly warning off vessels risky to submarine cables and cracking down on activities like sand dredging, drilling, anchoring, and fishing within cable protection zones.
The report further reveals that since 2015, Chinese telecom companies have organized cable protection teams to patrol over 5 million kilometers of sea routes, issuing warnings to more than 60,000 vessels endangering submarine cables. Additionally, China's cable operators collaborate with fisheries and transportation departments to enhance the monitoring of maritime operations. Advanced information systems are deployed to issue early warnings against potential cable-damaging activities. Operators also intensify routine inspections and real-time monitoring of cable operations. Maintenance enterprises pre-stock spare parts and repair materials to accelerate the restoration of damaged cables.
Meanwhile, Chinese submarine cable enterprises are making significant contributions to the stable operation of global submarine cable networks.
Mou noted that the China-UK joint venture Sino-British Submarine Systems Co, Ltd (SBSS), has long stationed a cable ship in the Yokohama Zone - one of the major cable maintenance zones in the Asia-Pacific region. China, Japan, and South Korea each contribute one vessel to the zone's rotational duty system. To date, the SBSS has accumulated over 27 years of experience in the zone, maintaining over 80,000 kilometers of cables and participating in more than 200 emergency repairs.
Wuhan FiberHome International Technologies Co, Ltd has successfully completed submarine cable construction and maintenance projects in Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Kenya, Chile, and other countries, Mou introduced.
The maritime official further stated that in recent years, China's maritime departments have implemented strict oversight across five key dimensions: Ship inspections, crew operations, corporate safety protocols, nautical chart verification, and patrol and inspection mechanisms. These measures aim to enhance the safety standards of vessels and anchoring equipment, intensify the monitoring of daily crew operations, and reinforce crew awareness of safe anchoring practices.
As the pace of global submarine communication cable construction accelerates, conflicts between increasingly busy international shipping routes and densely laid cable lines have increased. Every year, multiple incidents of submarine cable faults caused by vessel activity occur worldwide. This calls for stronger international cooperation to enhance the protection and maintenance of these critical infrastructures. However, in recent years, some Western countries have politically exploited submarine cable failures, launching narrative attacks on other nations. China, as an emerging power in global shipping and the submarine cable industry, has become one of the targets of these "pan-politicized" accusations.
The Global Times will publish two issues of investigation which will reveal, from the perspectives of technology and narrative, why some Western politicians and media outlets are eager to smear China for "disrupting submarine cables" and "stealing intelligence." The investigation shows that the Chinese government and enterprises attach great importance to the safety of international submarine cable operations. In fact, China has become an important force in maintaining the normal operation of global submarine cables.
Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng 3 navigates in the Baltic Sea in November 2024. Photo: VCG
In November 2024, a Chinese bulk carrier, Yi Peng 3, was suddenly thrust into the international spotlight. While navigating the Baltic Sea, the vessel was accused by several European countries of "deliberately dragging anchor for 100 miles to cut Baltic Cables" - one connecting Sweden and Lithuania, and another linking Finland and Germany.The Chinese bulk carrier was being monitored by Danish naval patrol vessels as European authorities continued to investigate the potential sabotage, the Business Insider reported in November 2024. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius claimed that the "anchor-dragging incident" in November 2024 was an act of "sabotage." The Swedish state prosecutor, Henrik S?derman, said he had launched a preliminary investigation into the incident, which was currently classified as "sabotage," the Wall Street Journal reported.
However, months later, US and European officials said that the evidence gathered to date - including intercepted communications and other classified intelligence - points to accidents caused by inexperienced crews serving aboard poorly maintained vessels, the Washington Post reported.
Despite this revelation, some Western media outlets' smear campaigns against China over submarine cable issues have not ceased. Earlier this year, after a cable rupture off the northeastern coast of Taiwan island, the incident was linked by BBC and some Western media outlets to the Yi Peng 3 case. The narrative spun was to claim that Chinese vessels intentionally damage submarine cables as part of a "gray zone warfare strategy."
This kind of defamation is hardly "new." In recent years, some Western media outlets have continuously amplified the false "China sabotaging submarine cables" narrative. Whenever a ship damages an undersea cable, any "Chinese connection" - be it Chinese crew members, ownership, or corporate background - is portrayed as "evidence" of deliberate sabotage.
Submarine cables, encompassing both communication fiber optics and power cables, are the backbone of global connectivity. Submarine cables carry over 99 percent of international data exchanges, according to the International Telecommunication Union. Despite advances in satellite technology, submarine cables remain the lifeline of global communication, underpinning the digital economy. Given their critical role, cable disruptions can cause incalculable losses - making accusations of "deliberate sabotage" highly inflammatory and damaging to China's international reputation, analysts said.
However, experts point out that while the public recognizes the importance of submarine cables, the sensationalized narratives surrounding "Chinese vessels sabotaging cables" thrives due to widespread misconceptions. Contrary to some Western media outlets' selective reporting on "Chinese-linked" incidents, most cable faults are caused by non-Chinese vessels - yet these rarely make headlines. Moreover, deliberately severing a submarine cable is technically challenging. Numerous studies confirm that the vast majority of cable damage incidents are accidental, not intentional.
"According to the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), there are about 200 submarine cable faults annually, with over 80 percent caused by ship anchors, fishing trawlers, or unidentified human activities," Mou Chunbo, chief engineer at the Industry and Planning Research Institute at the China Academy of Information and Communication Technology (CAICT), told the Global Times.
He noted that investigating submarine cable damage is highly challenging due to difficulties in tracking responsible vessels, especially in remote waters where ships can quickly flee. Jurisdictional complexities in territorial seas and exclusive economic zones further delay evidence collection, making such probes lengthy and complex.
Mou criticized some Western nations for hastily blaming Chinese ships based solely on proximity or automatic identification system (AIS) data, calling such claims "irresponsible." "Those accusations are unfounded. Any vessel passing through the area could be responsible. Factors like anchor slippage or harsh sea conditions often lead to accidental damage," he said, noting that jumping to conclusions without evidence reflects a political agenda rather than facts.
Photo: VCG
Complexity of submarine cable ruptures"From a technical perspective, the accusation in those Western media reports that 'Chinese vessels intentionally damaged submarine cables' is fundamentally untenable." A person in charge of a Chinese domestic submarine cable maintenance company told the Global Times that it is actually quite difficult for a commercial vessel to deliberately sever a submarine cable. "First, it is challenging to accurately locate the cable's position. Additionally, even if a large anchor is dragged during navigation, it is difficult to precisely cut the cable in a single pass."
"According to industry investigations into cable damage cases, many vessels that caused such damage were in an uncontrolled state caused by severe weather and sea conditions. These ships repeatedly swayed near the cables, deviating from their preset routes, ultimately leading to the cables being severed by anchors," he said.
A maritime official recently told the Global Times that over the past decade, Chinese maritime authorities have handled more than 20 cases of submarine cable damage caused by commercial or cargo vessels around the world. Investigations revealed that these incidents were accidental, with no evidence of intentional sabotage.
"Based on our analysis, there are three common scenarios for vessel-related cable damage," the official pointed out. The first scenario is that when navigating in areas with submarine cables, ships may experience accidental anchor detachment due to severe weather or rough sea conditions. The anchor could then snag the cable, and the massive dragging force generated by large vessels heaving in waves can ultimately sever the cable, the official explained.
He further revealed that the second scenario is when ships anchor in areas with submarine cables without confirming the safety of the anchoring zone or understanding the seabed layout. Anchoring or raising the anchor in such cases may hook and potentially damage the cables.
In addition, there is also a situation in which the crew's improper operation of the vessel leads to the damage of submarine cables. The official said that the previous investigation found that the lack of safety awareness and operational skills among individual crew members could lead to instances of ships damaging submarine cables.
A Chinese engineering team deploys submarine cables off Nanji Island, East China's Zhejiang Province. Photo: VCG
Commitment to submarine cable protection
The Global Times learned that the Chinese government and enterprises have always highly prioritized the operational safety of international submarine cables. Various measures have been adopted to minimize damage to cables caused by fishing, shipping, and other activities. Authorities also swiftly mobilize resources to expedite the repair of damaged cables, ensuring unimpeded international submarine cable communications.
On March 25, the Industry and Planning Research Institute at the CAICT released a report on China's participation in the construction and protection of international communication submarine cables.
The report highlights China's established comprehensive legal framework to provide robust institutional safeguards for international submarine cables transiting its jurisdictional waters. Maritime authorities such as the China Coast Guard and China Marine Surveillance have strengthened patrols and law enforcement at sea. These efforts include promptly warning off vessels risky to submarine cables and cracking down on activities like sand dredging, drilling, anchoring, and fishing within cable protection zones.
The report further reveals that since 2015, Chinese telecom companies have organized cable protection teams to patrol over 5 million kilometers of sea routes, issuing warnings to more than 60,000 vessels endangering submarine cables. Additionally, China's cable operators collaborate with fisheries and transportation departments to enhance the monitoring of maritime operations. Advanced information systems are deployed to issue early warnings against potential cable-damaging activities. Operators also intensify routine inspections and real-time monitoring of cable operations. Maintenance enterprises pre-stock spare parts and repair materials to accelerate the restoration of damaged cables.
Meanwhile, Chinese submarine cable enterprises are making significant contributions to the stable operation of global submarine cable networks.
Mou noted that the China-UK joint venture Sino-British Submarine Systems Co, Ltd (SBSS), has long stationed a cable ship in the Yokohama Zone - one of the major cable maintenance zones in the Asia-Pacific region. China, Japan, and South Korea each contribute one vessel to the zone's rotational duty system. To date, the SBSS has accumulated over 27 years of experience in the zone, maintaining over 80,000 kilometers of cables and participating in more than 200 emergency repairs.
Wuhan FiberHome International Technologies Co, Ltd has successfully completed submarine cable construction and maintenance projects in Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Kenya, Chile, and other countries, Mou introduced.
The maritime official further stated that in recent years, China's maritime departments have implemented strict oversight across five key dimensions: Ship inspections, crew operations, corporate safety protocols, nautical chart verification, and patrol and inspection mechanisms. These measures aim to enhance the safety standards of vessels and anchoring equipment, intensify the monitoring of daily crew operations, and reinforce crew awareness of safe anchoring practices.
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