After cable damage, Taiwan increases monitoring of flags of convenience ships

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan will step up monitoring and management of ships operating under flags of convenience, including boarding, after a Chinese-linked cargo ship was suspected of damaging an undersea communications cable, the government said.

Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, said a ship owned by a Hong Kong company but registered in both Cameroon and Tanzania damaged a cable in the north of the island earlier this month, although it was unable to had been to check that the ship’s intentions were disregarded and it was not possible for him to board due to the bad weather.

The ship’s owner denied involvement and the Chinese government said Taiwan was making up allegations before the facts were clear.

The incident has particularly alarmed Taiwan, which has repeatedly complained about Chinese “gray zone” activities around the island aimed at pressuring the country without direct confrontation, such as balloon flights and sand dredging.

In a report to lawmakers ahead of ministers’ questioning in parliament on Thursday, Taiwan’s National Security Bureau said it plans to step up monitoring and management of ships sailing under so-called flags of convenience. These are ships registered in countries other than their actual owner.

Such ships previously found to be submitting false information about them would be placed on a list of ships for priority inspection at ports, it said.

If these ships enter within 24 nautical miles of Taiwan’s coast and are near submarine cables, the Coast Guard will be dispatched to take them on board and investigate, the office added.

Taiwan will also promote greater international cooperation with the United States and Europe on suspected damage to submarine cables, it said.

“The office will continue to share information with like-minded countries, collect intelligence on threat warnings, analyze evolving trends in sabotage techniques and false disguises, and share prevention and response experiences.”

It did not provide further details.

Taiwan’s coast guard said in its report to lawmakers that its priority was to gain access to the ship in question as part of its investigation, and that areas where cables were laid and their landing points on land were important monitoring sites.

All departments must increase surveillance of these areas to evict any vessels engaging in illegal activities or “loitering” if necessary, or to collect evidence, it said.

Taiwan, whose government rejects Beijing’s claims of sovereignty, has pointed to similarities between what it experienced and the damage to submarine cables in the Baltic Sea after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Last week, Taiwan’s government said Chinese ships flying flags of convenience had “the mark of evil” on them.