China unveils powerful deep-sea cable cutter: Report
What's the story
China has introduced a small but powerful deep-sea cable-cutting device that can sever communication lines, the South China Morning Post reported.
The tool can operate at depths of up to 4,000m and has been developed for use with China's sophisticated manned or unmanned submersible vehicles.
The revelation came in a peer-reviewed paper published in the Chinese-language journal Mechanical Engineer on February 24.
Development
Developed by China's leading research centers
The deep-sea cable cutter was designed by the China Ship Scientific Research Center and the State Key Laboratory of Deep-Sea Manned Vehicles.
It is aimed at "armored cables," steel, rubber, and polymer sheathed lines that make up most data transmissions around the world.
Though it is intended for civilian salvage and seabed mining use, its military purpose could make it worrisome for other countries.
Vulnerability
Subsea cables: A potential target in times of conflict
Subsea cables have emerged as a potential target for governments around the world during times of heightened tension or outright conflict.
The recent unveiling of China's deep-sea cable cutter adds a whole new dimension to the vulnerability.
Capable of operating at significant depths and compatible with advanced submersible vehicles, the device is a formidable tool in the realm of underwater warfare or sabotage.