Taiwan has launched a global initiative to strengthen undersea cable security and protect international communications networks. Moreover, the new RISK program responds to recent disruptions near Taiwan and elsewhere. Consequently, Undersea Cable Security is now a key priority for the government.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung announced the Management Initiative on International Undersea Cables during a seminar in Taipei on Wednesday. He explained that RISK will align standards, share information, promote best practices, and convert shared concerns into global cooperation.
Taiwan sits at a critical point for global data cables. Furthermore, Lin noted past incidents damaging cables to outlying islands. These incidents, therefore, showed the need for resilience through planning and collaboration. As a result, he called on international partners to join the effort.
European voices supported the initiative. For instance, MEP Rihards Kols said more than 600 cables stretch nearly 1.5 million kilometers worldwide. He also described them as the digital backbone of democracy. Additionally, Kols added that 12 incidents since 2023 in the Baltic likely involved sabotage.
Kols highlighted Taiwan’s strategic importance in the Indo-Pacific. He further emphasized the nation’s experience with persistent economic, digital, and physical pressure. Moreover, he suggested EU-Taiwan cooperation using drones to monitor undersea cables. He also linked the initiative to Europe’s Readiness 2030 defense strategy.
Kols noted that Taiwan is the EU’s 13th-largest trading partner. Furthermore, he called the country a trusted partner in securing critical global infrastructure.
The seminar was organized by the Research Institute for Democracy Society and Emerging Technology, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Formosa Club. Officials stated that RISK will serve as a hub for research, innovation, and best-practice sharing.
Ultimately, the initiative aims to secure data flow while protecting connectivity from geopolitical threats. Therefore, Taiwan intends Undersea Cable Security to become a model for global cooperation.
