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05/21/2024 – 1:29
US national security officials have reportedly warned that undersea internet cables belonging to Google, Meta and other companies could be damaged by Chinese-controlled repair ships.
Concerns are said to center on underwater fiber-optic cables in the Pacific Ocean that are partly owned by big tech companies and used to transmit data from the US to Asia. Hard-to-access cables require maintenance from specialized companies, including some owned by China.
State Department officials have flagged concerns about a particular Chinese Communist Party-controlled company, SB Submarine Systems, which has taken steps to turn off its transponders and conceal the location of its repair ships. The Wall Street Journal reported.
The report, citing unnamed officials familiar with the situation, said the central banks were concerned that any tampering with the cables could threaten US commercial and military data. Senior Biden administration officials were also reportedly briefed on the concerns.
In a suspicious incident in 2019, the SBSS ship Bolt Maverick switched its transponder on and off several times over four days while floating in the same 1-mile sea off the coast of Singapore.
Other instances of SBSS ships disappearing from tracking systems have occurred near Taiwan and Indonesia, the journal reported, citing a review of ship data.
SBSS is owned by state-controlled China Telecom, which was banned by the US in 2021 for national security reasons. One of the company’s top officials is a member of the Chinese Communist Party.
The behavior of SBSS-owned vessels is considered unusual for cable repair vessels – although a source familiar with the company said it could be due to poor satellite coverage.
US officials cited several potential reasons for concern – including theft of intellectual property related to undersea cable equipment, exploitation of US data streams and identification of military communications links.
The National Safety Council said in a statement provided to the Journal that the safety of undersea cables is “rooted in a transparent and secure manner” in the “ability to construct, maintain and repair” by trusted companies.
The use of satellites to monitor ships undergoing repairs is “one of the measures to support ship surveillance and security”.
The issue comes at a time of heightened tensions between the US and China. Western officials have repeatedly criticized Beijing for its aggressive behavior toward Taiwan.
SB Submarine Systems describes itself on its website as “Asia’s leading provider of offshore cable installation and maintenance solutions”. The company did not immediately return a request for comment.
“There is nothing wrong with Chinese companies carrying out normal business according to the law,” he said. “We strongly oppose the US generalizing the concept of national security and attacking and defaming Chinese companies.”
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