After a submarine cable is damaged off the coast of Taiwan, the government in Taipei suspects it is a ship chartered by China. Taiwan’s coast guard said Thursday it “cannot rule out the possibility” that the ship was involved in “gray zone” activities.
However, direct evidence for this has not been provided. The owner of the ship, which is registered in Cameroon and Tanzania but owned by a company in Hong Kong, denied any involvement to the Reuters news agency.
Beijing: “just a maritime accident”
China’s office in Taiwan described the damage to the undersea cables as an “ordinary maritime accident” and accused Taiwan of “making the accusations out of the blue” and “deliberately playing the so-called gray zone threat from the mainland.”
Taipei complains about China’s “gray zone activities”.
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, which oversees Chinese policy on the island, responded that the matter is under investigation and will act on evidence. “Ships from mainland China flying flags of convenience have a questionable reputation internationally,” the report said in a statement. The council referred to investigations in the Baltic states, where Chinese ships are suspected of damaging submarine cables.
Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has repeatedly complained about China’s “gray zone activities” aimed at putting pressure on the island without risking direct confrontation.
Source: Krone
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