Taipei: A Chinese-flagged work barge, Hai Hong Gong 66, is under investigation for allegedly damaging a subsea telecommunications cable off Dongyin in the Matsu Islands, governed by Taiwan, during a salvage operation. The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) has brought the vessel's captain in for questioning, as reported by authorities.

According to Focus Taiwan, the incident occurred late on March 30 when the Hai Hong Gong 66 was engaged in operations to remove the stranded Chinese fishing boat Min Lian Yu 63896. It is suspected that these operations led to partial damage to the core wires of the Taiwan-Matsu Subsea Cable No. 3. The CGA's Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Branch indicated that Chunghwa Telecom reported a malfunction in the Dongyin-Beigan section of the cable on March 31, suspected to be related to the vessel's activities.

In response, a patrol boat was dispatched to gather evidence and board the vessel. Authorities have detained 11 crew members involved in the operation, bringing the captain ashore for a statement. The case has now been referred to the Lienchiang District Prosecutors' Office for further investigation. The fishing vessel Min Lian Yu 63896 had previously experienced water ingress, leading to its abandonment by the crew, who were subsequently rescued and returned to China. The vessel drifted ashore near Dongyin on March 21, prompting its owner to commission Hai Hong Gong 66 to begin removal operations on March 30.

The CGA has committed to monitoring the movements of Hai Hong Gong 66 while Chunghwa Telecom undertakes underwater inspections to assess the damage's extent and cause. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Digital Affairs has noted that only part of the cable's core wires were affected, and communications have remained uninterrupted due to traffic rerouting. The ministry has coordinated with a cable repair vessel to initiate restoration work, with completion expected by July 2026 at the earliest.