TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Coast Guard Administration (CGA) agents boarded a Mongolian-flagged cargo ship near Kaohsiung on Saturday to investigate whether it was involved in recent damage to undersea telecommunications cables.

In recent weeks, vessels registered in countries such as Cameroon and Togo have been suspected of cutting underwater cables, with many later found to be owned by Chinese companies and operated by Chinese crews.

The freighter Bao Shun was spotted 2.5 kilometers off Chaishan in Kaohsiung around 11 a.m. on Saturday, Radio Taiwan International reported. The CGA had previously inspected the same vessel on Jan. 23.

During Saturday’s inspection, officers found the ship was not carrying cargo and had no equipment capable of damaging cables. The captain claimed he was keeping the vessel near Kaohsiung due to mild weather while awaiting further instructions from the ship’s owner regarding repairs. The ship had dropped anchor to receive supplies before being ordered to leave.

The CGA said it will continue working with the Maritime and Port Bureau to monitor vessel activity around Taiwan. Ships suspected of engaging in suspicious activity will either be ordered to leave or subjected to further inspection.