China has dismissed Taiwan’s concerns over the recent severing of an undersea communication cable near the Penghu Islands, calling it a routine maritime accident. Taiwan’s coast guard detained a China-linked cargo ship following the incident, suspecting intentional interference.

Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson, Zhu Fenglian, criticized Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for allegedly politicizing the issue without clear evidence. She stated that such accidents occur frequently worldwide and accused Taiwan of exaggerating the situation for political gains.

This incident follows a similar case earlier this year, prompting Taiwan to strengthen surveillance of its undersea communication infrastructure. Taipei has also drawn parallels to undersea cable disruptions in the Baltic Sea after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, raising concerns over potential geopolitical tactics.

Additionally, Taiwan has reported increased patrols by China’s coast guard near the Kinmen islands, labeling them as routine harassment rather than law enforcement. Beijing insists these patrols are lawful and intended for maritime security. Taiwan remains vigilant as tensions with China continue to escalate over strategic infrastructure and territorial waters.