Chinese engineers have reportedly developed technology specifically designed to sever undersea communication cables, raising alarms due to the critical nature of these infrastructures. A recent Newsweek report revealed several patents for anchor-like devices intended for cutting submarine cables. Among them is a 2020 filing by engineers at China’s Lishui University, which outlines a cost-effective and simplified method for underwater cable cutting. The authors emphasized the need for faster and cheaper solutions compared to traditional, expensive methods involving cable excavation and retrieval.
The Lishui team’s invention is based on a 2009 patent from the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) of China. This earlier patent introduced a towing device designed to destroy unauthorized cables within Chinese waters. The SOA engineers explained that such a tool was necessary for eliminating illegal installations efficiently.
The destruction of submarine cables can have devastating consequences, disrupting internet connectivity and leaving regions dependent on emergency systems like satellites. Recent incidents have further amplified these concerns. In 2023, the Newnew Polar Bear, a Chinese vessel, damaged a natural gas pipeline and telecom cables in the Baltic Sea. Chinese authorities later attributed the damage to an accidental trailing anchor.
However, similar incidents involving Chinese ships have fueled suspicions of deliberate sabotage. For example, in 2024, the freighter Yi Peng 3 was linked to damage sustained by cables connecting Finland, Germany, Sweden, and Lithuania. Governments in the affected countries described the events as potential acts of “hybrid warfare.”
Earlier this month, Taiwan’s Trans-Pacific Express Cable System was damaged by a freighter owned by a Chinese company. Taiwanese officials expressed concerns about a growing trend of undersea cable sabotage, likening the vessels involved to Russia’s “shadow fleet” and suggesting deliberate destabilization.
Taiwan, heavily reliant on submarine cables, accuses China of engaging in “Grey Zone activities” to undermine the region without provoking direct conflict. The patents for such cutting devices only heighten fears of strategic disruption masked as technological advancement.
