China confirms deep-sea test of submarine cable-cutting device
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 10
China confirms deep-sea test of submarine cable-cutting device
13 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 10
The ministry said the actuator can slice armored cables at depths of 3,500 metres, as Donald Trump prepares for talks with Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Former Pentagon official Andrew Badger warned such systems could disrupt internet, banking, energy markets and military communications, with subsea cables carrying 99% of global data and supporting $10tn in daily transactions.
Taiwan has reported about 30 subsea cable incidents in recent years, while US senators introduced a bipartisan bill in April to strengthen undersea infrastructure security amid wider concerns over suspected sabotage in Europe.
As China tests deep-sea cable-cutting robots, is the world’s aging repair fleet prepared for conflict on the ocean floor?
Satellites cannot replace undersea cables, so what is the real Plan B for a coordinated attack on the global internet?
When a civilian ship severs a nation's internet, is it an accident or a new form of undeclared warfare?
China’s Deep-Sea Cable-Cutting Technology at 3,500 Meters: Strategic Threats to Global Internet Security
Overview
In April 2026, China completed a major deep-sea mission using the Haiyang Dizhi 2 vessel, where it tested an advanced electro-hydrostatic actuator (EHA) at a depth of 3,500 meters. This compact device, which combines a hydraulic system, electric motor, and control unit, successfully cut through underwater structures, including submarine cables. The EHA’s efficient and reliable design marks a significant leap in deep-sea technology, raising both civilian and military interest. This breakthrough highlights China’s growing capability to intervene in subsea infrastructure, with important implications for global security and digital connectivity.