TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taiwan Coast Guard is monitoring a group of foreign vessels massed in waters near southern Taiwan’s Hengchun Peninsula, which observers say may pose a threat to undersea cables.
On Sunday, the Coast Guard said the eight foreign-flagged ships were being monitored and there was no threat to national security. The ships were sheltering from inclement weather amid strong winds and high waves on Saturday, reported LTN.
Also Saturday, the civilian group TaiwanADIZ said the vessles should be monitored for possible gray zone activity. The ships allegedly demonstrated coordinated behavior near the Fangshan Submarine Cable Protection Zone.
TaiwanADIZ claimed at least two of the vessels switched their Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) to “not under command” after entering waters near Pingtung. The status is used to indicate that a ship is suffering mechanical failure or in distress.
The Coast Guard said the ships did not directly enter the Fangshan Submarine Cable Protection Zone and all ships are broadcasting AIS signals as required by international law. The Coast Guard urged the public to refrain from jumping to conclusions,
Shortly after the Coast Guard’s message on Sunday, TaiwanADIZ shared files that suggested two ships, the Eternal1 and New Dragon used the “not under command” signal. The group reiterated their warning that the ships may pose a threat to undersea internet cables.
