A gas explosion at a mall in Taiching City, Taiwan, resulted in at least four deaths and numerous injuries. Taiwan’s coast guard detained a China-linked cargo ship after an undersea cable to the Penghu Islands was disconnected, causing concern due to previous Chinese activities around the island. The ship, Hong Tai 58, registered in Togo, was suspected of being involved in damaging another cable earlier in the year. The ship had eight Chinese crew members and is under investigation for possible grey-zone harassment. Communication between Taiwan and offshore islands was redirected to other cables, minimizing the impact on services. Taiwan has seen an increase in sea cable malfunctions, with five reported cases this year. In 2023, two undersea cables connecting the Matsu islands were cut, leading to internet disconnections, but authorities stated there was no evidence of deliberate tampering by Beijing. The Taiwanese government is handling the current cable incident as a national security matter due to the suspicious behavior of the ship lingering in the waters near Taiwan and not responding to calls from the coast guard. The situation highlights the ongoing tensions between Taiwan and China over territorial claims and the need to safeguard critical communication links.
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