• The US FCC aims to ban Chinese technology in undersea telecom cables.
• Concerns arise over potential espionage and foreign ownership.
• Recent incidents have highlighted vulnerabilities in undersea cable infrastructure.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced plans to create new regulations forbidding companies from linking undersea communication cables to the US if they incorporate Chinese technology or equipment. FCC Chair Brendan Carr emphasized the urgency of these measures, stating, "We have seen submarine cable infrastructure threatened in recent years by foreign adversaries, like China," as part of a broader effort to shield undersea cables from ownership and cyber threats by foreign adversaries, according to SCMP, Reuters, and India Times.

The US has been increasingly apprehensive about China's role in global network infrastructure, particularly concerning how this affects network traffic and the risk of espionage. Undersea cables, which handle 99% of international internet traffic, are a critical part of this infrastructure. The FCC indicated that it aims to protect these systems from entities deemed a security threat, including major Chinese companies such as Huawei, ZTE, China Telecom, and China Mobile, according to SCMP, Reuters, and India Times.

The FCC's initiative follows the cancellation of four proposed cables aimed at linking the US with Hong Kong, driven by national security concerns. Recent events, including the severing of undersea cables, have underscored the vulnerabilities within this network. For instance, in 2023, two Chinese vessels were accused of cutting cables that connect the Matsu Islands to Taiwan, while Houthi attacks in the Red Sea also raised alarms regarding the security of crucial internet connections to Europe and Asia, as reported by SCMP, Reuters, and India Times.