10/03/2024

Escalating Contest over South China Sea Disrupts International Cable System

China’s attempted domination is taking a toll on Asia

Undersea cables below the South China Sea have long provided vital connectivity to countries in Southeast Asia as demand for internet service has surged.

To maintain the extensive network of cables and develop new ones, private cable companies have for decades relied on being able to move freely through this waterway, despite conflicting claims over the sea by China and a half dozen other governments.

But now, competition for control of the South China Sea is disrupting the repair and badly needed construction of subsea cables, raising costs and at times straining telecommunications, according to interviews with more than 30 people in the subsea cable industry and unpublished industry data.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Washington Post.