A research team from Lishui University, located along China’s coast, has filed a patent for an undersea cable-cutting device, raising fresh concerns about potential links to the recent spate of undersea cable disruptions.
The patent, submitted in 2020 by the team at Lishui University, details a "drag-type undersea cable-cutting device" designed to significantly streamline the process of cutting undersea cables. Traditional methods require locating, excavating, and cutting cables—a complex and costly process. The research team identified the high cost and specialized equipment needed for this process as key challenges.
However, a Norwegian expert in undersea cables, Itspeaking anonymously, has raised questions about the intended purpose of such a device. They highlighted that while the device claims to address illegal cable removal, its broad approach could cause damage to legitimate and critical undersea infrastructure.
Although both patent applications were ultimately withdrawn or rejected, with no official explanation provided regarding these outcomes.
Viewer Comments:
I don’t think there’s any such thing as an “obsolete” undersea cable.
Please stick to cutting your own country’s cables.
I can’t think of any use for this other than as a strategy against other countries.
Exclusive—Chinese patents reveal aim to cut undersea cables
Patent applications showed that Chinese scientists had been devising ways for severing undersea cables
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