Thu Jan 16 03:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Chinese Patents for Submarine Cable Cutting Devices Fuel Concerns Over Undersea Sabotage
**London, UK** – A Newsweek report reveals that Chinese engineers have patented technology designed to sever undersea cables, raising concerns about potential state-sponsored sabotage. The patents, including one from Lishui University detailing a cost-effective cable-cutting method, follow a string of incidents involving Chinese vessels and damaged submarine cables.
While Chinese authorities claim these incidents, such as damage to the Balticconnector pipeline and EE-S1 cable by the *Newnew Polar Bear* and damage to cables linking Finland/Germany and Sweden/Lithuania by the *Yi Peng 3*, were accidental, several governments suspect deliberate sabotage, characterizing the events as “hybrid warfare.” The recent damage to the Trans-Pacific Express Cable System by the Cameroon-flagged *Shunxing39*, owned by China’s Jie Jang Trading, further fuels these concerns. Taiwan, particularly vulnerable due to its island geography, alleges these “accidental” cuts are part of China’s “Grey Zone activities” aimed at destabilizing the country.
The existence of these patents, coupled with the repeated incidents involving Chinese-linked ships, casts a shadow over the already fragile security of global undersea cable infrastructure. Experts warn that the destruction of these critical communication links can cause widespread internet outages and significant economic disruption. The increasing sophistication of cable-cutting technology underscores the need for enhanced security measures and international cooperation to protect this vital infrastructure.
First Piper 