Wang Chuang-jin , who works at a hostel in the tiny Taiwanese archipelago of Matsu, had severe difficulties communicating with customers after two underwater electric cables mysteriously failed in February, reflecting Taiwan's digital vulnerability.

The two cables, which connect the archipelago near mainland China to the main island of Taiwan, were cut a few days apart, one 50 kilometers from Matsu and the other 40 kilometers from it, according to Chunghwa Telecom. The Taiwanese Communications Authority suspects that Chinese fishing or shipping vessels are responsible.

Since 2021, dozens of similar incidents have been recorded, which is now prompting officials in Taiwan to resort to satellite communications instead of cables.

The growing Chinese military threat also contributes to this penchant for satellite communications.

"Cutting undersea cables has hindered us a lot, as we all depend a lot on the Internet," said Wang, 35.

Tourism in Matsu was also negatively affected, as it was difficult for customers to book or pay online, says Amber Chen, a hotel employee.

"I think China is aware of the situation," said Cheng Yun-bin, a member of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party.

It would have been easy to prevent such an act of vandalism, but she did not."

The failure in communications raised questions about national security in Taiwan and the fragility of its main island connected to the world through 12 submarine cables, in addition to the two cables that connect it to the Matsu Archipelago, in the event of a war with China.

Lie Wen, director of the Democratic Progressive Party's office in Matsu, asked, "If an internet failure is possible in Matsu, couldn't it also happen in Taiwan?"

"Our government is studying a lot of new technologies, like the low-orbit satellites that played a crucial role in the war in Ukraine, to provide secure communications," he added.

Taiwan is currently testing satellite receivers with the aim of installing them in about 700 locations across its territory.
In an interview last year, Taiwan's Minister for Digital Affairs Audrey Tang asserted that the goal was to provide internet access for residents as long as they could "see the sky".

The plan calls for a budget of NT$540 million (€16.2 million) over two years to ensure communications for the government "in emergency situations such as natural disasters or wars," according to the Ministry of Digital Affairs.

According to media reports, two members of the US Congress have discussed with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen the possibility of deploying a network of Starlink satellites belonging to Elon Musk's SpaceX company, just as Starlink satellites have been deployed to improve communications in Ukraine.

SpaceX and the Taiwanese presidency did not respond to a request for comment from Agence France-Presse.

The Ministry of Digital Affairs confirmed that Taiwan is "ready to cooperate with any qualified satellite service provider".

Residents of the Matsu archipelago accuse Chinese fishing and cargo vessels, which regularly pass through Taiwanese waters, of cutting cables while dropping anchor or dredging the sea floor.

In the last three years, the Taiwan Coast Guard has turned away more than 4,000 ships trying to remove sand from the seabed in Taiwan for construction projects in China.

Experts say that although there is no evidence that China deliberately cut the cables, the incident allowed Beijing to obtain valuable information.

"China had an opportunity to test the resilience of Matsuo's military and civilians in the digital arena," says Taipei-based military expert Tsing Yi-su.

Matsu's roughly 8,000 residents had to deal with a very slow emergency communication network before the cables were repaired at the end of March.

Fishermen in Matsu, who rely on the Internet to receive their customers' orders, talked about the negative impact of the lack of communication on their lives.

"The internet connection was very, very slow and messages weren't even coming," said Wang Chia-wen, 45. "When I was receiving calls, the line would cut off even before I could finish my sentence."

The loss of communications in Matsu for several weeks provided an example of what life would be like for Taiwan's 23 million people if communications were lost on the island.

"The Chinese invasion, if it happens, will target the means of communication," says military expert at National Chengxi University, retired General Richard Hu, adding, "The incidents have reinforced doubts about the level of preparedness of Taiwan."