EU and Southeast Asia seek ways to protect undersea cables

Undersea cables carry over 95% of intercontinental internet traffic and are critical for global telecommunications and trade. Stretching about 1.4 million kilometers beneath the oceans, these cables face rising threats from accidental damage and deliberate sabotage.

Recent damage incidents in the Baltic and Red Seas—caused by ship anchors and suspected hostile actions—have revealed their vulnerability. In response, NATO countries have increased patrols using frigates, drones, and aircraft to protect key cable routes.

In Southeast Asia, tensions escalate as China pressures cable projects in disputed waters and reportedly develops advanced cable-cutting technology. Taiwan detained a Chinese-crewed ship after undersea cable damage near its shores, sparking geopolitical concerns.

Vietnam, dependent on a handful of undersea cables, has suffered repeated outages that threaten its technological ambitions. To reduce reliance on China or the US, Vietnam and other Southeast Asian nations seek investment and technical help from Europe.

The European Union recently launched a cable security action plan, dedicating nearly €1 billion to enhance cable surveillance and repair fleets. Yet experts doubt Europe’s ability to challenge China’s dominant role in regional subsea infrastructure.

A debate continues on Europe's role in Indo-Pacific security: US officials advise caution, while EU leaders stress the global nature of maritime security challenges.

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