Senators push bill to boost U.S. role in undersea cable security

Washington, Nov. 25 (CNA) Several United States senators proposed the "Strategic Subsea Cables Act of 2025" on Monday to spur U.S. government engagement related to the security, installation and maintenance, and repair of undersea fiber-optic cables.

One of those proposing the bill, ranking Senate Foreign Relations Committee member Jeanne Shaheen, referred to fiber-optic cables as "strategic" and "critical infrastructure" that "form the bedrock of global internet traffic," according to a committee statement.

She said the U.S. must respond to the rise of cable cuts in the Baltic Sea and the Taiwan Strait, according to a committee news release.

Another of the bill's sponsors, Republican John Barrasso, echoed Shaheen's views, saying that adversaries such as China and Russia continue to target the cables to "disrupt communications in Taiwan and for our allies across Europe and the Middle East."

Because of that, Barrasso argued, the U.S. should ensure that the vital telecommunications infrastructure is safeguarded from "terrorist threats."

The bill calls for greater U.S. participation in international bodies such as the International Cable Protection Committee and increased State Department investment, including hiring at least two full-time staff dedicated to the effort.

It would require the U.S. president to impose sanctions against foreign individuals who intentionally damage undersea cables and establish an inter-agency committee to coordinate related efforts.

It would also mandate a federal strategy to work with industry partners and require federal agencies to develop procedures to ensure timely communication of threat information with private undersea cable operators.

Undersea cables connected to Taiwan have faced ongoing disruptions in recent years.

The National Security Bureau said in September that around seven to eight undersea cable breaks occurred around Taiwan over the past three years, with four occurring within two months of the beginning of 2025.

A Chinese captain was found responsible for one of the aforementioned incidents in June.