China's government on Wednesday accused Taiwan of "manipulating" potential Chinese involvement in the recent severing of an undersea communications cable before all the facts were known, as tensions continue to simmer in the Taiwan Strait.
According to Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, the incident—which saw a cable supplying the Penghu Islands disconnected—was a “common maritime accident” that happens more than a hundred times a year worldwide. Zhu claimed that Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has deliberately exaggerated the situation to serve political ends, a move that, he asserted, would not win popular support.
The controversy erupted after Taiwan's coast guard detained a China-linked cargo ship on Tuesday near the affected cable. Taiwan has long decried what it calls "grey zone" Chinese activities, including balloon overflights and sand dredging, which it claims are designed to pressure the island without triggering full-scale conflict. The island also points to similar incidents—such as the damage to undersea cables in the Baltic Sea following Russia's invasion of Ukraine—as evidence of a deliberate pattern, often identifying Chinese ships flying flags of convenience as culprits.
Adding to the friction, Taiwan's coast guard has accused the Chinese coast guard of turning routine patrols near the Kinmen islands into “routine harassment.” These islands, controlled by Taiwan yet located just off the Chinese coast near Xiamen and Quanzhou, have seen repeated patrols that Taiwan argues undermine regional peace and stability.
While China’s government dismisses the cable incident as an isolated, minor accident, Taiwan views it as part of a broader pattern of coercive actions that threaten its critical communications infrastructure. The dispute highlights the deep-seated mistrust and strategic rivalry between the two sides, with implications that extend to regional stability and global maritime operations.
As both Beijing and Taipei double down on their respective narratives, analysts warn that such incidents could further inflame tensions in the already volatile Taiwan Strait, potentially affecting not only regional security but also the reliability of international communications networks.
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A group of top Trump administration officials reportedly shared sensitive military plans over the encrypted messaging app Signal just hours before the United States launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, sparking a political storm in Washington.
Bank of America (BofA) said the recent volatility in Turkish markets has so far had only a limited inflationary impact, stressing that Türkiye’s economic management remains in control.
In a groundbreaking study published in Cell on January 18, Chinese researchers have unveiled a novel cancer treatment that ingeniously disguises tumors as pig tissue, triggering the body’s immune system to mount a hyperacute rejection response against the cancer cells.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Tuesday to a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump that Russia and Ukraine cease attacking each other's energy infrastructure for 30 days, the Kremlin said following a lengthy phone discussion between the leaders.
Mexican forces have dismantled a massive meth lab in Zacatecas, dealing a blow to a Sinaloa Cartel faction.
The Houthi group in Yemen claimed responsibility for a series of missile and drone attacks, targeting Ben Gurion airport in Israel and U.S. warships in the Red Sea.
The European Union views the Palestinian Authority as "best placed to govern Gaza," according to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, following her meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in Ramallah.
U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that he is prepared to take a more flexible stance on new tariffs for automobiles and other goods than initially expected.
A group of top Trump administration officials reportedly shared sensitive military plans over the encrypted messaging app Signal just hours before the United States launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, sparking a political storm in Washington.
Bank of America (BofA) said the recent volatility in Turkish markets has so far had only a limited inflationary impact, stressing that Türkiye’s economic management remains in control.
The Houthi group in Yemen claimed responsibility for a series of missile and drone attacks, targeting Ben Gurion airport in Israel and U.S. warships in the Red Sea.
The European Union views the Palestinian Authority as "best placed to govern Gaza," according to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, following her meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in Ramallah.
U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that he is prepared to take a more flexible stance on new tariffs for automobiles and other goods than initially expected.
A group of top Trump administration officials reportedly shared sensitive military plans over the encrypted messaging app Signal just hours before the United States launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, sparking a political storm in Washington.
Bank of America (BofA) said the recent volatility in Turkish markets has so far had only a limited inflationary impact, stressing that Türkiye’s economic management remains in control.
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