Taipei: The severing of a submarine communications cable linking Taiwan’s main island and offshore Penghu County on Tuesday did not affect users, and the telecom link is expected to be repaired by May at the latest, according to the cable’s operator. Chunghwa Telecom assured that backup cables and microwave technologies ensured that all communication services, including mobile phone and internet traffic, were maintained despite the disconnection of the Taiwan-Penghu No. 3 cable that occurred around 3 a.m. the same day.

According to Focus Taiwan, the partially state-owned Taiwanese telecom company stated its willingness to cooperate with judicial authorities by providing any relevant information regarding the disconnection. Chunghwa Telecom also mentioned its intention to seek compensation through legal means, amid suspicions that the cable may have been intentionally severed.

Earlier on Tuesday, a Togolese-registered vessel was boarded, and its Chinese crew detained by Taiwanese authorities following a report received by the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) about the undersea cable being cut. The vessel had been near the cable since February 22, according to the CGA.

During RightsCon 2025, a human rights summit held in Taipei on Tuesday, Presidential Office Spokesperson Lii Wen emphasized the importance of strengthening the protection of submarine cables and enhancing the resilience of communications. He suggested that the Chinese Communist Party might be responsible for recent cable disconnections, advocating for cooperation with international partners to promote non-red supply chains of communications technology.

Lii Wen also highlighted that the protection of submarine cables should be treated as a national security issue, stressing that maintaining stable and smooth communication is vital for safeguarding a democratic political environment.