Small Chinese device causing unnecessary fuss

"Certain fears about China may stem from the fact that the country's sci-tech advancements make it increasingly difficult for some countries to maintain technological monopoly in certain fields."

Editor's note:

Hello and welcome to the "Big Argument" column, a distinctive commentary column in our newsletter that diverges from traditional Western narratives and perspectives. It focuses on hot-button issues that have yet to fully reflect the Chinese stance and perspective. One notable piece of the column, which also stands as one of the most engaging articles in the history of this newsletter, was a piece published last May on PLA's military drills around the Taiwan island.

You might find that some views in the article differ from the typical Western perspectives, but I believe understanding different viewpoints might be one of the reasons some of you subscribe to this newsletter.

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Recently, several overseas media outlets published stories about an electric cutting device developed by Chinese researchers. These reports, such as a piece titled "Revealed: China’s new weapon that can cut any undersea cable" by The Telegraph, describe a Chinese device developed for civilian purposes as a "threat" to undersea cables. But, is this really the case?

Industry experts have revealed that such technology is commonly used in marine resource exploration and development, seabed salvage and underwater emergency rescue operations. For instance, in the process of marine resource exploration and development, surface ships are often used to supply power and communication needed to operate underwater ROVs (remotely operated vehicles). When there is an emergency evacuation due to dangerous sea conditions, the connection cable linking an ROV and surface ships needs to be cut urgently to ensure rapid evacuation.

It is quite strange that certain overseas media outlets choose to make this a major issue just because China has made a degree of progress in this field, and even though the development of the Chinese technology is still in the prototype phase.

Notably, efforts by Chinese scientists to develop related products can help improve the safety of Chinese personnel engaged in marine-related work. Also, marine study efforts in China can benefit from such technology, allowing the country to make greater contributions to global understanding of the oceans -- thereby serving the interests of all.

In recent years, there has been a noticeable trend among some countries and media to presume bad intentions in China's pursuit of legitimate technological advancements. This biased judgment and reporting reflecting it, may be partly influenced by past incidents where some countries engaged in the destruction or sabotage of other nations' public infrastructure.

China's growth is often viewed through a similar lens of suspicion. But smearing or suspecting China due to the past misdeeds of others is clearly unfair, and so is labeling a device developed to enhance the safety of marine exploration as a "weapon" that can be used for cutting undersea tables for reasons other than emergencies or relevant exploration and salvage work.

Take undersea telecommunication cables for instance. They are vital to global connectivity and the development of the digital economy. They carry approximately 99 percent of international data traffic. As global public infrastructure, their efficient, stable and secure operation is crucial for global network connectivity and vital for the well-being of people in all countries.

Chinese companies have emerged as key players in global submarine cable equipment manufacturing, construction and maintenance, after years of development efforts. They have laid a cumulative length of over 70,000 km of submarine cables, covering the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. China's role in the building and maintenance of undersea cables significantly enhances global access to fast, convenient and affordable internet.

File photo shows workers laying submarine cable on the construction boat in Zhoushan, east China's Zhejiang Province.

For proper knowledge of what China has done and is doing in terms of undersea cables, it is recommended that China watchers carefully read a relevant report, which was released by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology.

"China is an active builder, reliable operator and security maintainer of international submarine cables. The Chinese government and Chinese enterprises attach great importance to the data security of communication submarine cables. They always adhere to the principles of openness, cooperation, security and mutual trust, and provide high-quality services for various users," noted the Report on China's Participation in the Construction and Protection of International Communication Submarine Cables.

It is very possible that certain fears about China may stem from the fact that the country's sci-tech advancements make it increasingly difficult for some countries to maintain their technological monopoly in certain fields and pursue exclusive interests.

Just as a recent Xinhua commentary piece pointed out, some countries have been smearing China in the submarine cable sector, citing risks such as "surveillance" without any concrete proof to back up their claims. Such allegations are no more than repeated chapters in a containment playbook intended to suppress not only China's undersea cable industry but also curb the country's overall development, the commentary piece added.

China's quality, cost-effective products benefit the whole world. To serve the interests of its own and others, China will continue to work with the international community to protect undersea cables. “Connection” is a keyword in China’s vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

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