Overview

• China has developed a device capable of severing reinforced undersea cables at depths of up to 4,000 meters, twice the depth of existing cable infrastructure.
• The technology, featuring a diamond-coated grinding wheel spinning at 1,600rpm, was officially disclosed in February 2025 through a Chinese-language journal.
• While presented as a tool for civilian applications like seabed mining, the device's dual-use potential has sparked fears of its use in grey zone tactics during conflicts.
• Recent incidents, including suspected cable sabotage near Taiwan and in the Baltic Sea, have heightened concerns about China's expanding underwater capabilities.
• Experts warn the device could threaten critical global communications, including U.S. military infrastructure in the Pacific, such as near Guam.