The US and China are waging an “underwater war” over the laying of fiber cables, writes Reuters.
At least six cable-laying deals involving Chinese companies have been thwarted in recent years. The agency notes that there are concerns in Washington that China’s intelligence could “easily connect” to the cables and gain access to Internet traffic. As Cyber Statecraft Initiative researcher Justin Sherman said, submarine cables are a “surveillance goldmine” for the world’s intelligence agencies. “When we talk about the technological rivalry between the US and China, when we talk about espionage and data collection, submarine cables are involved in all aspects of this growing geopolitical tension,” the expert emphasized.
In February, US-based SubCom LLC began laying a $600 million fiber optic cable on the seabed to carry data from Asia to Europe, according to the agency. The grandiose project was originally supposed to be carried out by the Chinese HMN Tech, but Washington “put pressure” on the consortium of customers for fear of connecting Chinese intelligence services.
A State Department source also told Reuters that the US had been warning other countries through its embassies about the security risks of a Chinese company laying the cable and about possible US sanctions against HMN Tech. In addition, Washington offered grants totaling $3.8 million to five telecommunications companies in the countries through whose territorial waters the cable was to be laid.
According to Washington’s TeleGeography, more than 400 cables are laid on the seabed worldwide, carrying more than 95% of all international Internet traffic.
Source: Rosbalt
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
