TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Coast Guard Administration intercepted a Cameroon-registered container ship with a Chinese name after it was suspected of damaging an undersea cable north of Taiwan on Friday.
Chunghwa Telecom identified the Shunxin39 after it passed by an international communication cable northeast of New Taipei’s Yeliu, per CNA. The telecom company asked the Coast Guard to intervene.
The incident happened at 7:45 a.m. Friday, with the Coast Guard station in Tamsui receiving a report from Chunghwa Telecom at 12:40 p.m. According to the telecom operator, the damage did not affect domestic communications.
A Coast Guard ship sent from Keelung located the Cameroon-registered container ship and ordered it closer to the port for an inspection. Prosecutors will investigate to determine responsibility for the incident and possible compensation for damage to the cable.