US on red alert after discovery of colossal Chinese submarine cable cutter: 95% of global connections at risk

Humans depend on water in so many ways that we can't possibly mention them all, and over time, we're finding new ways to harness it. One of the most recent, but still crucial to our daily lives, is the use of submarine cables to transmit high-speed internet.

And since the Internet has become crucial to the functioning of virtually every action or process we want to carry out, as well as the means by which we communicate, sabotaging network connections is a way to do real damage to your enemies.

This has made submarine cables a target for attack , and in recent years we have seen reported cable-cutting attacks in tense and strategic areas, such as the Russian cable in the Arctic or in Taiwan by a Chinese cargo ship .

That's why alarm bells have been ringing in the US, and indeed around the world, after China unveiled a cutting-edge device capable of cutting submarine cables at unprecedented depths , potentially affecting 95% of global data transmission.

This cable cutter is capable of operating at depths of up to nearly four kilometers. The project, developed at the China Naval Scientific Research Center, consists of manned and unmanned models , such as the Fendouzhe and Haidou series, which are integral to maintaining global communications networks.

The cables targeted by this device are armored with robust materials such as steel and polymers, which are essential for carrying 95% of the world's communications data. Therefore, it features a diamond-coated wheel that spins at 1,600 rpm, allowing it to effectively break through steel cables without disturbing ocean sediment.

Although the device was initially designed for civilian applications, such as salvage and deep-sea mining , its dual-use potential has raised concerns around the world. The ability to cut cables in strategic locations like Guam could severely disrupt global communications, exposing the vulnerabilities of existing infrastructure.

China's advances in submarine technology are part of a broader ambition to improve its infrastructure and influence in the oceans.