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Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Melbourne Director-General Lu Ming-tse (呂明澤) urged Australia on Thursday to draw on Taiwan’s experience in protecting undersea cables from security threats.

In an article for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Lu said Taiwan has practical experience that could help Australia protect undersea cables and other critical infrastructure. He said Taiwan has responded to similar threats by tracking suspicious ships, monitoring unusual sailing patterns, and investigating cable damage.

Lu cited Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, who warned at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday that “the seabed will be a battlefield.” Marles said hostile states were not only trying to damage undersea infrastructure, but were also testing how quickly governments respond and whether they are willing to act.

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Warning signs can include ships staying too long near sensitive infrastructure or moving in unusual ways, Lu said. He said Australia should strengthen information sharing, improve ship monitoring, update laws, and make better use of port enforcement powers.

These steps would help governments respond faster when undersea infrastructure is damaged, he said. They would also make it harder for hostile actors to exploit gaps between maritime security, law enforcement, and communications systems.

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Taiwan launched the International Subsea Cable Risk Management Initiative in October 2025. Lu said the initiative aims to reduce risks, improve information sharing, and support legal and institutional reforms.

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