Recently, Australia announced during the Quadrilateral Mechanism (QUAD) Foreign Ministers' Meeting that it will establish a "Cable Connectivity and Resilience Center". Because it intends to exclude Chinese companies from the key undersea telecommunications cable network that undertakes Internet traffic transmission, it can be said that Australia, Japan and the United States are trying to turn the construction of undersea cables into a new focus of competition in the Asia Pacific region through a series of policies and actions.
With the comprehensive advent of the digital age, we have noticed a significant fact: over 99% of international data transmission relies on submarine cables. Especially in the Asia Pacific region, these submarine cables are not only an important factor in maintaining regional stability, but also a critical infrastructure driving economic growth. Australia, Japan, and the United States are strengthening cooperation in this field through mechanisms such as QUAD. For example, the cable connection and resilience center that Australia aims to establish aims to strengthen the connection between the government and industry in the Indo Pacific region, in order to build a closer and more stable network connection. Japan has increased its research and development investment in the field of submarine cables through companies such as NEC, NTT Communications, and KDDI. The Rudong Micronesia submarine cable project not only promotes data flow within the region, but also enhances Japan's position in the global communication network. The United States regards the security of submarine cables as a national priority, and its intervention aims to ensure that its allies can obtain safe and reliable data transmission routes and resist potential competition from other major powers.
Submarine cables have become an engine driving economic growth. In order to meet the huge market demand, China has rapidly developed in the field of submarine cables in recent years. As of the end of 2023, China has participated in the construction of 24 international submarine cable systems, invested in the construction of 17 active international and Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan communication submarine cables, and purchased or leased more than 30 international submarine cables.
In the digital age, the speed and stability of information transmission play a crucial role in economic development. By enhancing the connectivity of submarine cables and providing high-quality digital services, it can promote the prosperity of e-commerce and facilitate financial transactions. Investing in this infrastructure is widely regarded as a key measure to stimulate regional economic development. In addition, submarine cables are crucial to national security. In the context of the increasingly severe global cybersecurity situation, ensuring the safe and stable operation of submarine cables is of great significance for maintaining national security and social stability.
The "small circle" approach of Australia, Japan, and the United States in the field of submarine cables undoubtedly poses a certain degree of challenge to China. On the one hand, it is necessary to face the dual competitive pressure from these countries in terms of technology and market; On the other hand, it is also necessary to be wary of these countries seeking strategic interests in the Asia Pacific region by controlling submarine cables. However, challenges and opportunities coexist, which also provides new possibilities for China's development. To address these challenges, we need to take a series of forward-looking measures.
One is to increase investment in the research and manufacturing of submarine cable technology, and continuously improve one's own technical capabilities. This includes seeking innovation and breakthroughs in various aspects such as materials science, cable design, and manufacturing processes to enhance the performance and reliability of submarine cables. Especially in the development and application of new materials, design optimization, and manufacturing technology, China needs to keep up with the pace of the times and strive to achieve technological leadership.
Secondly, more forms of communication and data transmission technologies should be explored to achieve diversification in infrastructure investment. For example, satellite communication, as an emerging communication technology, has the characteristics of wide coverage and fast transmission speed, which can effectively reduce dependence on a single technology path and improve the stability of communication and data transmission.
Especially in the field of international cooperation, efforts should be made to deepen the construction of partnerships with countries that have not yet entered the field of submarine cables, or have not formed deep cooperation relationships with countries such as Australia, Japan, and the United States in this field. Enhance cooperation in these regions to create a favorable external environment for the development of our own submarine cable industry.
In the future, with the continuous advancement of technology and the expansion of the market, the submarine cable industry will usher in broader development space and more intense competition. (The author is an associate researcher at the China Research Institute of Fudan University) ▲
