A new conflict is emerging between Taiwan and China, according to Reuters.

Recently, a Chinese vessel damaged underwater cables off the coast of Taiwan. The incident has heightened tensions between the countries.

According to Reuters,

the Taiwan Coast Guard suspects that the Chinese ship damaged the cable near the northern coast of the island at the end of last week, but investigators were unable to board for an investigation due to poor weather conditions. The ship's owner stated in a conversation with the agency that there is no evidence of their involvement in the incident.

Reuters reports that the Taiwanese coast guard does not rule out that the vessel, registered in Cameroon and Tanzania but owned by a Hong Kong company, was operating in a "gray zone." However, the agency did not provide any direct evidence of this.

Recall that on January 8, the Chinese Taiwan Affairs Office stated that the damage to the underwater cables is a "common maritime accident," and Taiwan is making accusations "out of thin air" and intentionally inflating the "so-called gray zone threat from the mainland."

In response to this statement, the Taiwan Mainland Affairs Council stated that the matter is under investigation and will be considered based on the available evidence. The Council reminded that Taiwan has previously faced cable damage leading to the Kinmen and Matsu Islands. These territories are located near the Chinese coast but are controlled by Taipei.

Background. Earlier, Mind reported that Taiwan is deepening economic integration with other democratic countries and is working with partners, including the United States, to deter Chinese leader Xi Jinping from invading the island.