China Unveils Deep Sea Cable Severing Tool

Concise Summary:
China has unveiled a deep-sea cable cutting device capable of severing communication lines at depths up to 4,000 meters. This technology, developed by the China Ship Scientific Research Centre and its State Key Laboratory of Deep-sea Manned Vehicles, poses a significant threat to global infrastructure. The device targets armored cables crucial for data transmission, disrupting 95% of worldwide communications. Designed to be integrated with Chinese submersibles like Fendouzhe and Haidou, the tool’s dual-use potential raises concerns about its potential use in geopolitical conflicts. Cutting near critical chokepoints like Guam could disrupt global communications infrastructure, potentially triggering a geopolitical crisis. While the device’s technology has successfully overcome deep-sea challenges, its impact on international security is significant and requires further scrutiny.

Key Points:

  • Here are five key points extracted from the provided content:.
    • China has developed a deep-sea cable-cutting device designed to sever cables at depths up to 4,000 meters, capable of disrupting global communications.
    • The device is intended for use by China’s advanced submersibles, including those used in seabed mining and research.
    • This development raises concerns about its dual-use potential, as cutting cables near strategic locations could disrupt global communication networks.
    • The tool has successfully addressed the technical challenges of operating in deep-sea conditions.
    • The device is designed to cut armored cables that carry 95% of global data transmission, making it a significant threat to infrastructure worldwide.

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archive.is: https://archive.is/https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/china-cable-cutter-sever-95-world-communications
archive.ph: https://archive.ph/https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/china-cable-cutter-sever-95-world-communications

Original Link: https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/china-cable-cutter-sever-95-world-communications

User Message: This week, China unveiled a new deep-sea cable cutter that could cut lines at depths of up to 4,000 meters. The cutter is designed for integration with China’s advanced crewed and uncrewed submersibles. The new device was designed and developed by the China Ship Scientific Research Center and State Key Laboratory of Deep-Sea Manned Vehicles. It is able to sever “armored cables,” lines with steel, rubber and polymer sheaths, which makes up the construction of the majority of cables that carry global data and communications.

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