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US plan to replace undersea cables draws China accusations
China said the US approach could disrupt international market rules and threaten global data connectivity and cybersecurity.
The US-China tech rivalry is extending into the undersea cable business that carries global data for AI and other cross-border computing, according to the South China Morning Post.
SCMP Economy reports that China accused Washington of politicizing submarine cable networks after reports that the US planned to spend US$175.8 million to replace ageing lines in the Caribbean and Central America in a bid to limit Chinese involvement.
The outlet also notes that submarine cables move nearly 99.0% of intercontinental data traffic, making control of these networks strategically important as AI demand grows.
China’s foreign ministry warned that treating undersea cables as a security issue could disrupt international market rules, damage data connectivity, and weaken cybersecurity, SCMP Economy said, citing a statement from spokesman Lin Jian.