Taipei (dpa) — A court in Taiwan on Thursday sentenced a Chinese captain to three years in prison in the first criminal case involving damage to Taiwan’s undersea cables.
The Tainan District Court found the man, identified by the surname Wang, guilty of violating the Telecommunications Act. The verdict is subject to appeal.
According to the court, a Togolese-registered cargo ship backed by Chinese capital and controlled by Wang severed an undersea cable between Taiwan and the strategically important Penghu Islands, located in the Taiwan Strait, in February.
Wang admitted to instructing crew members on the Hongtai 58 to drop the anchor but denied allegations of intentionally causing damage.
Taiwan’s Coast Guard called the incident a “gray zone activity,” indicating Beijing’s use of pressure tactics without open conflict as part of its ongoing efforts against Taipei.
Taiwan, home to 23.4 million people, has maintained an independent government since 1949. However, China claims the island as part of its territory.
After the verdict, China’s Foreign Ministry said it was unaware of the details and dismissed the matter as non-diplomatic. In April, Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office accused Taiwanese authorities of sensationalizing the case and presuming guilt prematurely.
Undersea cable damage near Taiwan is common and often attributed to natural causes like fishing or earthquakes, but experts warn of increasing risks of deliberate sabotage amid rising China tensions.
Over the past four years, Taiwan recorded 32 cases of undersea cable damage by foreign vessels, but only two led to civil compensation, according to the Liberty Times newspaper.
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