China creates a deep-sea cable-cutting device with worldwide implications
China develops a deep-sea device for cutting undersea cables, raising global tensions.
China has introduced a deep-sea cable-cutting device designed to operate at depths reaching 4,000 meters. Initiated by the China Ship Scientific Research Centre and State Key Laboratory of Deep-sea Manned Vehicles, this technology specifically aims to sever robust armored steel, rubber, and polymer cables critical for international communication and power systems. Alarmingly, it has the ability to compromise connections near strategic locations such as Guam, possibly leading to geopolitical tensions and crises, given its potential impact on the US military's reliance on underwater infrastructure.
Despite its intended civilian purposes like seabed mining and salvage operations, many view the technology as a threat. Concerns have grown regarding its capability to stealthily sever vital communication links, particularly given recent undersea cable disruptions like those suspected in the Baltic Sea. Hu Haolong's team overcame deep-sea challenges by designing the device with a titanium alloy shell and a diamond-coated grinding wheel to efficiently cut reinforced cables while minimizing sediment disturbance.
China’s growing fleet of submersibles, notably the Fendouzhe and Haidou series, enables the deployment of this device, allowing for enhanced capabilities underwater. The potential stealth capabilities of the device have caught the attention of military research communities concerned with strategic global impacts. Unintended military applications pose a significant concern, particularly as the technology could be used from remote platforms for covert operations.
Though Chinese scientists claim the device supports marine resource development, the dual-use nature cannot be ignored. China's ambitions in the blue economy align with crafting its maritime dominance and establishing a deep-sea 'space station' in the South China Sea, projecting its oceanic influence. Collaborations with nations like the Cook Islands intend to deepen ties through marine resource-based economic and sustainable activities.
This development is set against a backdrop of increasing international tensions in cyberspace and physical infrastructure sabotage. As global watchdog agencies and militaries remain vigilant, efforts to safeguard vulnerable communication cables are intensifying. Melissa Horner noted, "The world must now balance technological advancement with the potential for weaponization as nations rush to secure their interests both on and beneath the waves."
Sources: TechSpot, BBC, Reuters, South China Morning Post, The Diplomat