Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Undersea cables are the invisible backbone of the global economy — but they are increasingly vulnerable to disruption. For Taiwan, these critical links carry not just internet traffic but financial data, military communications and connections to the outside world. With rising concerns over China’s “gray zone” activity and suspected sabotage, Washington is now treating undersea cables as a national security priority, stepping up cooperation with Taipei. But how resilient are these networks, and what happens if they are cut? In this episode, we examine the strategic importance of undersea cables, the growing risks they face and how Taiwan and the United States are working to protect one of the most critical infrastructures in the digital age.
Host: Wen-Ti
Producer: Chinyeh Chiang
Guests:
Raymond Sung
- Taiwan Ocean Affairs Council Deputy Minister
Jason Hsu
- Hudson Institute Senior Fellow
Chapters:
00:00:00 – China threatens Taiwan’s undersea network
00:01:01 – Why are Taiwan’s undersea cables so vital?
00:12:24 – US: cables are security, economic vulnerability
00:22:55 – Lai: Taiwan must show that it can defend itself
#underseacables #SubmarineCables #CableSecurity #CriticalInfrastructure #DigitalInfrastructure #GlobalConnectivity #InternetBackbone #TelecomNetworks #GrayZone #GrayZoneThreats #HybridWarfare #MaritimeSecurity #SeaLinesOfCommunication #Chokepoints #StrategicInfrastructure #CableDisruptions #Sabotage #Resilience #NetworkResilience #Redundancy #CableRepair #CyberSecurity #CyberResilience #InformationSecurity #DigitalIsolation #BlackoutRisk #SupplyChains #GlobalEconomy #FinancialSystems #MilitaryCommunications #DefenseStrategy #NationalSecurity #USChinaCompetition #IndoPacificSecurity #RegionalSecurity #AlliedDefense #USCongress #USPolicy #CUIRIA #USChinaTensions #USTaiwanRelations #SecurityCooperation #JointMonitoring #Surveillance #NavalStrategy #OceanAffairs #TaiwanDefense #SpecialDefenseBudget #LaiChingTe #TaiwanStrait #Geopolitics #InternationalRelations #GlobalSecurity #Deterrence #PeaceAndStability #TaiwanPlus #TaiwanTalks
Undersea cables are the invisible backbone of the global economy — but they are increasingly vulnerable to disruption. For Taiwan, these critical links carry not just internet traffic but financial data, military communications and connections to the outside world. With rising concerns over China’s “gray zone” activity and suspected sabotage, Washington is now treating undersea cables as a national security priority, stepping up cooperation with Taipei. But how resilient are these networks, and what happens if they are cut? In this episode, we examine the strategic importance of undersea cables, the growing risks they face and how Taiwan and the United States are working to protect one of the most critical infrastructures in the digital age.
Host: Wen-Ti
Producer: Chinyeh Chiang
Guests:
Raymond Sung
- Taiwan Ocean Affairs Council Deputy Minister
Jason Hsu
- Hudson Institute Senior Fellow
Chapters:
00:00:00 – China threatens Taiwan’s undersea network
00:01:01 – Why are Taiwan’s undersea cables so vital?
00:12:24 – US: cables are security, economic vulnerability
00:22:55 – Lai: Taiwan must show that it can defend itself
#underseacables #SubmarineCables #CableSecurity #CriticalInfrastructure #DigitalInfrastructure #GlobalConnectivity #InternetBackbone #TelecomNetworks #GrayZone #GrayZoneThreats #HybridWarfare #MaritimeSecurity #SeaLinesOfCommunication #Chokepoints #StrategicInfrastructure #CableDisruptions #Sabotage #Resilience #NetworkResilience #Redundancy #CableRepair #CyberSecurity #CyberResilience #InformationSecurity #DigitalIsolation #BlackoutRisk #SupplyChains #GlobalEconomy #FinancialSystems #MilitaryCommunications #DefenseStrategy #NationalSecurity #USChinaCompetition #IndoPacificSecurity #RegionalSecurity #AlliedDefense #USCongress #USPolicy #CUIRIA #USChinaTensions #USTaiwanRelations #SecurityCooperation #JointMonitoring #Surveillance #NavalStrategy #OceanAffairs #TaiwanDefense #SpecialDefenseBudget #LaiChingTe #TaiwanStrait #Geopolitics #InternationalRelations #GlobalSecurity #Deterrence #PeaceAndStability #TaiwanPlus #TaiwanTalks
