Philippines and Taiwan Explore Cooperation on Undersea Cable Security

• •Philippines seeks deeper cooperation with Taiwan on undersea cable security.
• •Chinese activities in the region are pressuring both nations without direct confrontation.
• •Taiwan's Coast Guard is open to collaboration, enhancing maritime law enforcement.

The Philippines is considering enhanced cooperation with Taiwan to protect undersea cables and address gray-zone activities, despite its one-China policy. Felipe F. Carino III, the Philippines' deputy chief of mission in Washington, stated that this 'pragmatic and practical approach' is necessary for mutual interests in the Bashi Channel. Both nations have expressed concerns over Chinese activities that pressure them without direct confrontation. Carino linked the security of undersea cables to tensions in the South China Sea, noting that these cables are vital for intercontinental data flows. Taiwan's Coast Guard has also indicated openness to cooperation, and a liaison officer has been stationed at the Philippines' representative office in Taipei. Recent incidents involving damage to undersea cables have heightened the urgency for such collaboration. The Philippines has deployed its largest coast guard vessel to challenge Chinese research ships near undersea cable corridors.