Officials in Taiwan have implemented emergency communication protocols for Dongyin island following damage to a critical undersea cable connection, according to government reports released Wednesday.
The cable disruption occurred when severe weather apparently caused shipwreck debris to shift and sever the underwater communication line, cutting off standard service to the remote territory.
Dongyin houses approximately 1,500 residents and holds significant military importance due to its position at the northern edge of the Taiwan Strait. The island depends on ferry transportation from Taiwan’s mainland, as it lacks airport facilities.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs confirmed that the damaged cable had provided the primary link between Dongyin and Beigan, which is part of the Taiwan-administered Matsu island chain located near China’s coastline.
Emergency microwave communication technology has been deployed to restore voice calling and internet access, with cellular phone services and data connections now functioning at normal levels on Dongyin.
However, cable television remains unavailable, and some online services may experience slight delays due to ongoing weather issues, ministry officials noted.
Chunghwa Telecom expects to complete cable restoration work by late July, though the timeline depends on favorable weather conditions for repair operations.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about the fragility of undersea communication infrastructure connecting Taiwan’s remote territories. Last year, two separate cable breaks disconnected internet service to the Matsu islands entirely. Taiwanese officials attributed that disruption to two Chinese vessels, though they found no proof of intentional sabotage by Beijing.
In response to these recurring vulnerabilities, Taiwan has been developing enhanced communication backup systems for potential emergency scenarios, including possible military conflict with China. Current initiatives include testing low-Earth-orbit satellite technology for remote locations such as Matsu.
