{
  "id": 15976592,
  "title": "Philippines exploring deeper cooperation with Taiwan to protect cables",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/philippines-exploring-deeper-cooperation-with-taiwan-to-protect-cables-15976592",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-21T23:44:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/10/22/philippines-exploring-deeper-cooperation-with-taiwan-to-protect-cables"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Philippines is looking to strengthen ties with Taiwan to better protect undersea cables and combat gray-zone activities, despite adhering to its one-China policy, according to a Philippine diplomat. Undersea cables are crucial for maintaining Taiwan's global connectivity, as they account for nearly all intercontinental data flows, with 60-67% of cyber incidents occurring in the region. The Philippines and Taiwan have repeatedly expressed concerns over China's actions aimed at pressuring the countries without resorting to direct conflict, as China claims Taiwan as its territory and has overlapping claims with both Taiwan and the Philippines in the South China Sea.\n\nPhilippine Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington, Felipe F. Carino III, stated that a pragmatic and practical approach with Taiwan is necessary to safeguard mutual interests in the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines. He emphasized that cable security is vital, as these cables are integral to maintaining global communications and cyber security. Carino highlighted the importance of knowledge-sharing and capacity building between the two nations, and suggested that this cooperation could evolve to address gray-zone issues in their respective regions. He did not disclose specific details about potential joint patrols or accountability measures for vessels disrupting communications, but indicated that such cooperation may soon materialize.\n\nTaipei has ramped up efforts to safeguard undersea communications links following several incidents involving cables and Chinese-linked vessels. Recently, the Philippines' coast guard deployed its largest vessel and an aircraft to challenge a Chinese research ship operating near undersea cable corridors off northern Batanes province. Taiwanese Deputy Representative in Washington, Andrea Yang, noted that Taiwan has jailed a Chinese ship captain for damaging an undersea cable and pledged to allocate more resources to developing unmanned systems for enhanced maritime surveillance. Yang emphasized that interference with undersea cables is a matter that should be addressed by the UN, advocating for mechanisms to prevent \"bad behavior.\"",
  "summary": "Taipei has stepped up efforts to protect undersea communication links after several incidents involving cables and China-linked vessels.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Philippines exploring deeper cooperation with Taiwan to protect cables",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/philippines-exploring-deeper-cooperation-with-taiwan-to-protect-cables",
        "published": "2026-10-21T23:44:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Times",
        "title": "Philippines exploring deeper cooperation with Taiwan to protect cables",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/philippines-exploring-deeper-cooperation-with-taiwan-to-protect-cables",
        "published": "2026-10-22T01:30:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}