The State Deep-Sea Vehicle Laboratory, part of the China Marine Science Research Center (CSSRC), has developed an advanced underwater cable cutting device capable of operating at depths of up to 4,000 meters.
According to the South China Morning Post, this system was initially introduced for use in rescue operations and maritime mines, but its capacity to cut the reinforced steel cables that transmit 95% of global data has caused international concern, writes A2 CNN.
It is equipped with a 150 mm diamond-coated cutting disc, which rotates at 1,600 rpm, enabling it to destroy telecommunications cables without leaving large marks on the seabed. Initial tests show that it can cut cables up to 60 mm thick.
Experts have raised the alarm over the risk this technology could pose to cybersecurity and critical infrastructure. Suitable for covert operations and hybrid attacks, it could be used to disrupt the internet and strategic data networks.
Newsweek reports that China had been experimenting with similar technology since 2020, when a group of engineers from Lishui University in Zhejiang developed a "cutting device for underwater cables," arguing that in some exceptional cases it may be necessary to cut them.
While China presents this system as an innovation for civilian uses, concern remains about the possibility of its use in acts of sabotage and cyberwarfare, making it a potentially destabilizing tool in geopolitical tensions. (A2 Televizion)
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