Taiwan and China traded barbs over what the government in Taipei suspects was a Chinese-linked ship's damage to an undersea communications cable off the island's coast, an incident that has raised alarm bells on the island.

In 2023, the outlying Matsu Islands, within view of the Chinese coast, endured patchy internet for months after two undersea internet cables broke. These fiber optic cables that connect Taiwan to the internet suffered about 30 such breaks between 2017 and 2023.

By bno - Taipei Bureau Taiwan’s investigation into damage to an undersea communications cable has sparked heightened tensions, with a Chinese-registered vessel emerging as a key figure in the case. The incident,

The Chinese director of a firm whose vessel Taiwan suspects of having damaged an undersea communications cable said on Wednesday there was no evidence the ship was involved, an incident that has alarmed the government in Taipei.

On Wednesday, China's Taiwan Affairs Office dismissed the accusations, claiming undersea cable damage is part of common maritime accidents. It claimed Taiwan was making baseless accusations against China and exaggerating “so-called grey zone threats.”

Taiwan is investigating damage to an undersea cable near Yehliu, suspected to have been caused by a Cameroonian-registered cargo ship with links to mainland China, amid growing concerns over maritime sabotage worldwide.

Taiwan accuses a ship of damaging undersea communications cables, raising tensions with China. While Taiwan suspects Chinese involvement, the ship's owner denies it. This incident highlights ongoing 'grey zone' tensions between Taiwan and China as Taipei seeks evidence to support its claims amid Beijing's denials.