Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs reported undersea cables to the Matsu Islands were disconnected, citing 'natural deterioration.' Backup communications were activated to restore internet services.

Undersea cables are conductors wrapped in insulating materials and laid on the seabed. Their main functions are telecommunications or power transmission. The core of the undersea cables used for Internet signals is optical fiber,

According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), undersea cables carry more than 90% of global internet data traffic and face more than 150 cable breaks annually worldwide, primarily due to human errors and accidents.

Disruptions to undersea cables have been a particularly alarming issue for Taiwan given it has repeatedly complained about “grey zone” Chinese activities around the island, designed to pressure it without direct confrontation, such as balloon overflights and sand dredging.

A series of incidents, both at home and in Europe, stoked concerns about Chinese attempts to disrupt telecommunications in Taiwan.

Taiwan's authorities reported that submarine cables connecting Taiwan to its Matsu Islands, which are home to about 14,000 people, have been disconnected. Alternative communication solutions have been established.