On June 26, 2024, Control Yuan President Chen Chu, along with 16 Control Yuan Members serving on the Committee on Foreign and National Defense Affairs and the Committee on Transportation and Procurement Affairs, visited the Satellite Communications Center & Submarine Cable Station at Fangshan Township in Pingtung County. With an emphasis on the resilience of critical infrastructure, the committees used the visit to gain a deeper understanding of cable issues, including the deployment of submarine cables, construction of the cable landing station, security of the cable engine room, reinforcement of Internet communications resilience, maintenance and installation of domestic submarine cables, troubleshooting and fixing submarine cable issues, and backup plans to mitigate the risks of submarine cable cuts.
The site visit not only provided the two committees an opportunity to better understand the maintenance and operations of submarine cables, but also included the holding of a forum. During this forum, the Members stated that with the advancement of artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and 5G communications, the digital convergence industry has boomed, as has worldwide demand for bandwidth. Consequently, submarine cables have become critical infrastructure across the globe. According to the National Communications and Cyber Security Center (NCCSC), around 50 percent of submarine cable troubles are caused by fishing vessels or breakdowns, showcasing the fact that Taiwan needs to ramp up its cable communications response capabilities and ensure resilient security.
As Taiwan’s communications links with both its offshore islands and with other countries rely mainly on submarine cables, along with satellite communication systems and microwave links, critical communications infrastructure has become an essential part of industrial networks and the cornerstone of our digital society. The CY Members called on the Ministry of Digital Affairs, National Communications Commission, and other relevant agencies to come together to jointly bolster the resilience of Taiwan’s critical infrastructure. By carrying out measures making use of defense drills, information security measures, and land and sea Internet cable construction to strengthen response capabilities and step up the stability and resilience of Taiwan’s communications, the nation can ensure the maintenance of secure internet links even when faced with emergencies and other unforeseen circumstances.