Philippines Explores Deeper Cooperation With Taiwan To Protect Undersea Cables Despite Manila’s One China Policy

The Philippines is exploring closer cooperation with Taiwan to protect undersea communications cables and address maritime “gray-zone” activity, a Philippine diplomat said, as concerns over cable security grow amid tensions in the South China Sea.

Felipe F. Carino III, Manila’s deputy chief of mission in Washington, said the two sides were considering practical cooperation, including knowledge-sharing and capacity building, to protect their mutual interests around the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines.

The discussions are taking place despite the Philippines’ one-China policy, under which Manila recognises Beijing rather than Taipei. China claims Taiwan as its territory and has overlapping claims with Taiwan and the Philippines in the South China Sea.

Speaking at a seminar hosted by Washington’s Center for a New American Security, Carino linked undersea cable security to regional tensions but did not name China directly.

He said undersea cables carry nearly all intercontinental data flows and cited figures indicating that 60% to 67% of cyber incidents occur in the region.

“These are very important features that should be protected, so much so that we are exploring deeper cooperation with our friends in Taiwan,” Carino said, adding that the effort was proceeding “notwithstanding our one China policy”.

He said the two sides were exploring practical approaches, including sharing knowledge and building capacity, to address gray-zone issues in the region. Such activity involves pressure or actions that fall short of direct military confrontation.

Asked whether cooperation could include joint patrols or measures to hold vessels accountable for disrupting communications, Carino said he did not have specific details.

“I’m sure that this is a constantly evolving cooperation, and some of the things that you mentioned may be actually coming to fruition,” he said.

China warned the Philippines on Thursday to adhere to the one-China principle through concrete actions, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said. Beijing also sent a similar message to Taiwan.

The warning comes as Manila and Taipei explore ways to respond to activities they have described as attempts to pressure them without direct confrontation.

Undersea cables carry data between countries and are vital to international communications. Taiwan has stepped up efforts to protect its links with the rest of the world following several incidents involving cables and vessels linked to China.

Earlier this month, the Philippine Coast Guard said it had deployed its largest vessel and an aircraft to challenge a Chinese research ship operating off northern Batanes province, near undersea cable corridors.

The deployment came as concerns over maritime activity around the Philippines and Taiwan continued to grow.

At the same Washington seminar, Andrea Yang, Taiwan’s deputy representative in the United States, referred to the jailing in Taiwan of a Chinese ship captain over damage to an undersea cable.

Yang said Taiwan would put more resources into developing uncrewed systems to improve maritime surveillance.

She also said interference with undersea cables should be addressed by the United Nations, which should consider mechanisms to prevent what she called “bad behavior”.

References: Reuters, taipeitimes