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Taiwan has just stopped a ship after cutting an underwater cable. The problem is that there are only Chinese citizens inside

February 26, 2025 by usatoday24

That the submarine cables, whether communications or energy, have become a first level actor in the geopolitics of the planet, is out of any doubt. The cases of cuts and Sabotajes that have occurred in recent months, together with The huge investments They are taking place among companies with AI in the equation, attest to it. However, if the cable cut occurs in a high voltage place such as Taiwan, the incident acquires another channel. The suspicion of sabotage. It is not the first time in the enclave, like We have counted beforebut it has happened again. The authorities of Taiwan have stopped a ship of load under the suspicion of having cut a communications cable Submarine that connects the main island with the Penghu archipelago, located about 30 kilometers west. Although the investigation is still ongoing, the event adds to a series of similar incidents that have generated restlessness on possible tactics of maritime sabotage by China and Russia. The problem: the ship is manned by Chinese citizens. The arrest. A Taiwanese coach detected That the vessel, a freighter in poor condition with multiple names and Chinese financing, was in the area when the cable rupture occurred. According to Ou Yu-FEI, spokesman for the Coast Guard, it was The only ship present In the area at that time, which reinforces the hypothesis of its involvement. In addition, they say that the ship could have used a false registration number and changed its name suddenly, a common pattern in covert activities. Context of a “possible.” As has told the New York Timesthe incident occurred around Tuesday at 3:24 am, shortly after a Taiwanese patrol ordered the freighter to leave the area because they were too close to the submarine cables with the anchor thrown. This detail has led the authorities to consider the possibility that the ship took advantage of its exit to perform a deliberate act of sabotage. Crucial cables. The cutting of submarine communications cables is always a serious accident, but in the case of Taiwan a little more. The reason? It depends on Great measure of these cables for its connectivity with its peripheral islands and with the rest of the world. While they can be damaged by natural causes such as earthquakes or aging of the material, the most common reason is the drag of ships of ships or fishing nets. In fact and as we remembered, recent patterns have led some analysts to speculate that China and Russia could be resorting to deliberate sabotage as a form of harassment in the sea. A trend. A summary of the growing number of similar cases could be made in recent times. In 2023a cable between Taiwan and the Matsu Islands was cut, affecting communications for weeks. TO beginnings of 2025a digital cable that connects Taiwan with South Korea, Japan, China and the United States suffered damage, indicated that a Chinese ship could have dragged its anchor over it. In November 2024two fiber optic cables in the Baltic Sea were cut, and the investigations pointed to a Chinese/Russian flag freighter. In response to this trend, the Taiwan government has intensified surveillance of its underwater infrastructure and has prepared a list of More than 50 suspicious shipsmany of them registered with convenience flags (such as the togolesa, used by the detainee ship). The answer. A few hours ago, China has accused Taiwan of politically manipulate the recent incident of the submarine cable. According to Beijing, the Taiwanese government has exaggerated the situation without conclusive evidence, with the aim of feeding tensions and obtaining political revenue. Zhu Fenglian, spokesman for the Chinese Government’s Taiwan Affairs Office, minimized the same, stating that damage to submarine cables They are common maritime accidents that occur more than a hundred times a year worldwide. In addition, he accused the Democratic Progressive Party (PPD), which governs Taiwan, to use the event to manipulate public opinion without their claims having real support. For its part, the Taiwanese government has rejected Beijing’s claims, insisting that there are clear indications of possible sabotage, especially since the ship with Chinese links was present in the area when it occurred. Geopolitical implications. If Taiwan’s suspicions are confirmed about intentional damage, the fact could climb the tensions between the island and China. As We have been countingBeijin considers Taiwan as part of its territory and has increased pressure on the island in recent years through military incursionseconomic pressure and cyber attacks. We will have to wait, since the case has been sent to prosecutors to deeper investigation. Meanwhile, the island continues reinforcing your measures security to avoid new interruptions in their underwater communications. In a context in which the control of digital networks and critical infrastructure has become a hybrid war tool, these incidents reinforce the perception that the “neighbor” could be exploring forms of indirect destabilization without reaching an open conflict . Image | 總統府Taiwan Coast Guard In Xataka | Taiwan does not want more problems with China or with its submarine cables. So you have activated an unpublished security plan In Xataka | Goal already has the tool to lead the AI era: an underwater cable that will take more than one return to the earth

The Japan islands closest to Taiwan have begun to evacuate the area. They have been preparing for the worst for two years

January 31, 2025 by usatoday24

For decades, Ishigaki It was a back of peace where the greatest concern of its inhabitants was to protect their climate crops and pests. However, for a while to this part The growing tension between China and Taiwan (and United States)has turned the small Japanese island, located only 300 km from Taiwan, into a potential conflict point. Like Ishigaki, to rest of Sakishima Islandsfrom Okinawa’s prefecture, the same thing happens to them, and they are preparing for the worst. The case of Ishigaki. A few years ago, the island has already “armed.” The installation of anti -mushroom missiles and anti -aircraft in the enclavepart of an ambitious military modernization plan in Japan, sought to strengthen the defense of the country, but it could also make Ishigaki a target in case of a confrontation in the region. Farmers like Tetsuhiro Kinjowhose greenhouse is now in the line of fire, They related to New York Times if they can continue living in peace or if the paradise that they have built will disappear under the crossfire of the powers. Of the economic opportunity to the military threat. Japan has long been to see China as an opportunity for economic growth To consider it a direct threat to your safety. For years, the relationship between the two countries It was marked by territorial disputescommercial tensions and the memory of World War II, but always with a political position that avoided confrontations. However, the hardening of Beijing’s control over Hong Kong and Xinjiang, their growing dominance in global supply chains and their aggressive movements in the Eastern China Sea They have generated a change in Japanese perception. The Taiwan inclusion in Japan’s White Bile for the first time reflected Tokyo’s growing concern on the future of the island and its impact on regional stability. The dilemma In the background, the Possibility of a conflict in Taiwan It generates a strategic dilemma for Japan. Some analysts fear that a war in the region not only will bring direct clashes, but serve as pretext for China to try to seize the disputed senkaku isletswhich manages Japan but Beijing claims as his. This concern has given a new impulse to the political sectors that seek to review the Pacifist Constitution of Japan, a historically controversial issue, although increasingly backed in the current context. Not just that. The passage of time does not seem to appease tension Between Taiwan and China, but quite the oppositeso Japan has decided to prepare its closest islands to an eventual geopolitical conflict of major words. Evacuation plans. Before the growing possibility of that crisis In Taiwan, The Japanese government has been designing evacuation plans since 2023 For approximately 120,000 residents of the Sakishima Islands chain, in Okinawa prefecture. The strategy seeks Move the population to the Kyushu region and Yamaguchi prefecturealthough it faces serious logistics challenges, from the availability of transport to the preparation of adequate infrastructure to receive the evacuees. Planning has accelerated as China shows a more aggressive position In the Eastern China Sea and the South China Sea, increasing concerns about a possible invasion of Taiwan and its repercussions in Japan. Logistic challenges No doubt, the Japanese government has identified multiple obstacles for mass evacuation in case of conflict. The plans include The authorization of airports and ports in Fukuoka and Kagoshima as a key exit pointsalthough the estimated time to complete the evacuation of the entire population would be at least six days, a figure that experts consider optimistic and difficult to meet in an emergency scenario. In addition, the lack of adequate infrastructure in local ports and airports, such as the need for clues of at least 3,000 meters and greater depth in the docks to receive large ships, has been pointed out as a critical problem. Maybe for all this, Maritime transport is contemplated as an essential alternativeespecially for those who cannot fly for medical reasons (plus: adverse weather conditions could complicate their viability). In parallel, A plan has begun to improve the capacity of shelters on the mainlandincluding the construction of underground facilities to provide temporary refuge for approximately two weeks in case of attack with ballistic missiles. Drills and tests. As we said, since 2023, the Nation has carried out simulation exercises to evaluate the viability of evacuation and improve coordination between local and national authorities. In March 2024 and This same week of 2025 exercises have been carried out of mapping under the Civil Protection Law, recreating an imminent attack scenario with part of the population participating in the drill. In addition, at the end of 2024 the authorities tested A model case in which 1,000 residents of Tarama Island were evacuated to refuge facilities in the prefecture of Kumamoto. Tests, in short, that have allowed identifying failures in coordination and the availability of resources, which has led to the review of the protocols. In this regard, one of the most urgent problems is the supply of food and supplies for a displaced population of that magnitude, a challenge that will require exceptional logistics to guarantee the efficient distribution of resources. Security evacuating. One of the biggest risks identified in these plans is The vulnerability of evacuation transport to possible attacks. In this regard, a government official has warned that The airplanes and ships that move to the civilian population could become military objectiveswhich would make an essential significant reinforcement of Japan’s air and naval defense. In addition, this has revived The debate on the strengthening of the country’s defensive capabilitiesparticularly in a context where Japan has increased its defense budget and has reinforced its military cooperation with the United States and other allies. An uncertain scenario. Thus, the growing approach to Japan in mass evacuations planning reflects a change in their security perception, going from a deterrence to deterrence to a most active preparation against possible military contingencies. While tensions in the Taiwan Strait continue to climb, the nation is in a career against time to ensure that its population is … Read more

Taiwan does not want more problems with China or with its submarine cables. So you have activated an unpublished security plan

January 29, 2025 by usatoday24

Earlier this year and after what happened with an underwater cable that affected the only remaining link with the Matsu Islandsincident that occurred just a week after Another cable that connected the island was damagedTaiwan made an unprecedented decision. A call Washington ended with A two -year agreement so that the United States Army would disembark on the island and train the Taiwanese Navy. Actually, this is just part of the plan. Protect cables as priority. Submarine cable infrastructure is the pillar of the global connectivity of most nations, But a little more for an island like Taiwana territory that depends almost in its entirety of these systems to guarantee the communication of its citizens, companies and government institutions. To get an idea, any severe interruption in these links could not only leave the population incommunicado, affecting access to essential services such as mobile applications and digital platforms, but it would also have A critical impact on economic and government operations. The problem is that the fragility of these systems has been evidenced with the growing incident frequency In the cables that connect the enclave with its peripheral islands and with the world, which has raised concerns about the safety and resilience of this key infrastructure. Alarming frequency of failures. Globally, The more than 450 existing underwater cable systems They experience damage in a range of 0.1 to 0.2 incidents (by cable) per year, which is equivalent to 50 and 100 annual failures worldwide. However, the situation in Taiwan is exceptionally critical. The cables that connect Matsu’s peripheral islands with the main island They suffer an average of 5.1 annual interruptions, which represents a frequency up to 50 times higher than the global average. This data underlines the level of vulnerability of communications and the urgent need to implement protection measures. As we count, on January 22, The two submarine cables that connect Matsu with Taiwan were disconnectedwhich left the island is isolated digitally. According to the Taiwan Digital Affairs Ministry (Fashion), the cause was a “natural deterioration.” And it was not an isolated case: just a few weeks before, on January 3, a communications cable north of the main island, operated by Chunghwa Telecom, It was also cut, allegedly by a ship manned by Chinese citizens. The boat in question, Shunxing 39, was registered in Cameroon and Tanzania, which complicates the direct attribution of the attack. Strategies to strengthen security. The result of the situation has been to activate An unprecedented plan, measures to reinforce the safety of their submarine cables. For example, telecommunications operators have deployed maritime patrols with the aim of warning of fishing vessels approaching sensitive areas. Likewise, the Taiwan Coast Guard has intensified surveillance through monitoring systems to trace boats in critical areas. There are more. To improve redundancy in communications, fashion has implemented A subsidies program to encourage the construction of new stations International cable landing and the installation of backup systems. In addition, Taiwan has opted for the diversification of his communication systems through satellites. In this sense, the government has signed Agreements with the European company SES for the deployment of medium orbit satellites (MEO) and with Oneweb for the incorporation of low orbit satellites (Leo). All measures that seek to guarantee the continuity of government and military communications in case of an emergency. Legal challenges to protect cables. One of the main obstacles in the protection of submarine cables is the complexity of international legislation around these infrastructure. According to international maritime laws, if damage occurs within the territorial waters of a country, this may exercise jurisdiction on the incident. The problem? That, if the affectation happens in an exclusive economic zone or in international waters, The responsibility falls to the country where the suspicious boat is registered. This legal framework generates significant barriers for the investigation and persecution of those responsible for deliberate sabotages. From there The problem in the Baltic with The “Ghost Ships”. In response to these challenges, Taiwan has taken legislative measures to penalize intentional attacks against their submarine cables. The sanctions include prison sentences between one and seven years, in addition to fines that can reach 10 million Taiwanese dollars (approximately 300,000 US dollars). And the United States. It We have recently. Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense has announced A two -year agreement with the United States to train the Taiwanese Navy In a context where the island’s Parliament is prepared to vote possible cuts in the budget for military training abroad. The agreement, valued at approximately 50 million Taiwanese dollars (1.5 million US dollars), stipulates that US Navy personnel will be sent to Taiwan to carry out a specialized naval training program. The training sessions, in principle, will be held at the headquarters of the Navy and the Marines of Taiwan, located in the Zuoying district, near the city of Kaohsiung, in the south of the country. It is, therefore, The first time in history that the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense publicly recognizes the presence of US military coaches. Regional Resilience. The numerous cases in recent months They have shown it. The protection of submarine cables, and more in Taiwan, is not only a national problem, but a matter of regional security. Any interruption in these infrastructure can affect their neighboring countries, which reinforces the need to establish strategic alliances for damage prevention and repair. In this regard, Taiwan aims to work closely with its partners in Asia To strengthen cable repair capabilities, improve logistics and develop advanced monitoring technologies. In fact, a few weeks ago researchers from the University of Lisui in China They registered a patent for an anchor device designed to cut underwater cables efficiently. There is no evidence of its use in real attacks, but the simple existence of these technologies suggests that the risks to telecommunications could be intensified in the near future. Image | 總統府 In Xataka | 2025 has started with another cut cable cut. The problem is where and the suspect: in Taiwan and China In Xataka … Read more

It will impose tariffs from 25 to 100% to the chips manufactured in Taiwan

January 28, 2025 by usatoday24

Donald Trump is fulfilling his word. During the electoral campaign he promised that he would make the decisions that were necessary to reinforce the business of US companies within the US. And he also assured that he would sanction tariffs all those countries that threaten the interests of the nation that leads since January 20. As soon as he has been in the government for a week, and he is doing both. “In the very close future we will impose tariffs on foreign production of computer chips, semiconductors and pharmaceutical products to return the manufacture of these essential goods to the US (…) went to Taiwan; now we want them to return. We do not want to give them Millions of dollars in the ridiculous Biden program. 100%”, Donald Trump declared yesterday during a conference that was held in Florida (USA). This measure of the Donald Trump’s government has not taken TSMC offset The express mention to Taiwan that the US president has made a few hours ago is a very clear allusion to TSMC. On this Asian island there are other semiconductor manufacturers, such as UMC, but its relevance in the chip market is much lower than that of the company currently leading CC Wei. TSMC dominates the integrated circuit market with A quota of approximately 60%so your leadership in the chip manufacturing industry is indisputable. TSMC has been leaching its strategy for more than four years to extend its semiconductor manufacturing infrastructure beyond Taiwan’s borders Anyway, the passing step that the US administration is going to give will not take TSMC by surprise. This company has been outlining its strategy for more than four years to extend your manufacturing infrastructure of semiconductors beyond the borders of Taiwan. And he is doing it for two reasons. On the one hand it is an effective way to protect your business if at any time it is triggered A war conflict between China and Taiwanand their plants on the island were useless. But, in addition, TSMC is significantly developing its infrastructure in the US. His plan is that their new Arizona factories not only serve to protect their business from a possible conflict between China and Taiwan; They also protect it from the foreseeable US tariffs. The first of these plants is already producing integrated circuits in the N4 lithographic node, which belongs to the Finfet family of 5 Nm. In fact, he is about to deliver Apple’s first chips games. The second Arizona factory will be operational in 2028 and will produce circuits integrated in N3 (3 Nm) and N2 (2 Nm) nodes. And finally, the third factory will not be listed at all until the end of this decade and will produce chips in the N2 (2 nm) node. So far the most advanced TSMC integration technologies were only available In its Taiwan plantsbut, as we have just seen, Soon they will also be in the US. And in this way it will solve two problems of a stroke: it will be fought from the tariffs that the Trump government will approve and will reinforce its production infrastructure beyond its country of origin. One last note: in addition to the US, TSMC is building New plants in Japan and Europe. Image | TSMC More information | C-Span In Xataka | Intel’s plan in front of an unattainable TSMC: beat Samsung and consolidate as the second largest chips manufacturer

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