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Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
US senators target China's grey zone warfare with new undersea cable defence bill
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel In response to the rising Chinese grey zone threats, a bipartisan group of US senators introduced legislation yesterday aimed at protecting vital undersea communication cables surrounding Taiwan Undersea Cable Resilience Initiative Act , introduced by Republican Senator John Curtis and Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen, seeks to harden critical infrastructure against sabotage by the People's Republic of China (PRC).According to Taipei Times, the act proposes a multi-agency initiative led by the U.S. Department of State, in coordination with the Departments of Defence, Homeland Security, and the US Coast bill mandates the deployment of real-time monitoring systems, the development of rapid-response protocols, increased maritime surveillance , and greater international coordination to deter and respond to acts of undersea intelligence and recent incidents, the senators warned that Beijing's military doctrine includes targeting undersea cables to cripple communication in the event of February 2023, Taipei Times reported that at least 11 disruptions have occurred, most linked to vessels suspected of deliberate interference, an alarming trend that U.S. lawmakers say must not go unchallenged."We can't stand idle as China ramps up its tactics to isolate Taiwan, including by sabotaging its vital undersea cables," Senator Curtis said in a press release quoted by Taipei Times. "This bipartisan effort sends a clear message: the United States stands with our democratic partners against coercion."Separately, Senators Curtis and Chris Van Hollen also reintroduced the Taiwan International Solidarity Act to push back against Beijing's diplomatic isolation campaign. The bill clarifies that UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 does not bar US advocacy for Taiwan's participation in international organisations."China has long manipulated Resolution 2758 to silence Taiwan on the world stage," Curtis said, adding that the United Nations "must not become a platform for that distortion." Taipei Times noted that the House passed a version of the bill in May, but Senate action remains latest moves mark a firm bipartisan stance against Beijing's hybrid warfare tactics and its broader campaign to undermine regional security.
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First Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
‘Can't stand idle as China…': US Senators join call for new Taiwan law to check Chinese ‘grey zone tactics'
A bipartisan group of US senators has introduced new legislation to strengthen Taiwan's undersea cable resilience and counter China's grey zone tactics. The bills seek to improve maritime security and defend Taiwan's international standing amid increasing geopolitical pressure from Beijing. read more Amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, a bipartisan group of US senators has introduced a bill aimed at countering China's escalating use of 'grey zone tactics' against Taiwan, particularly its undersea communications infrastructure. The Taiwan Undersea Cable Resilience Initiative Act, unveiled Wednesday by Republican Senator John Curtis and Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen, seeks to bolster the resilience of critical submarine cables near Taiwan. According to a report by Taipei Times, the bill calls on the US Department of State, working in coordination with the Departments of Defence, Homeland Security and the Coast Guard to deploy real-time monitoring systems, develop rapid-response protocols, strengthen maritime surveillance, and expand international cooperation to detect and respond to sabotage attempts. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The initiative comes in response to mounting concerns over China's attempts to isolate Taiwan through non-traditional means. 'We can't stand idle as China ramps up its tactics to isolate Taiwan, including by sabotaging its vital undersea cables,' Senator Curtis said. He emphasised that enhancing monitoring capabilities and infrastructure security sends 'a clear message' that the United States remains committed to defending shared global infrastructure, sovereignty, and democratic values. The act refers to at least 11 reported disruptions to Taiwan's undersea cables since February 2023, incidents that US officials suspect involved vessels engaged in deliberate interference. These disruptions have threatened Taiwan's internet connectivity and highlighted the vulnerabilities in the island's communication links. In addition to the cable legislation, another bill—the Taiwan International Solidarity Act—was also introduced by Senators Curtis and Chris Van Hollen. This measure asserts that United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 does not preclude US efforts to push back against attempts to downgrade Taiwan's international status. It encourages Washington to work with allies in resisting Beijing's growing diplomatic pressure on Taipei. The latest Senate action follows the House's passage of a companion version of the International Solidarity Act in May, co-sponsored by Democratic Representative Gerry Connolly and Republican Representative Young Kim. A similar effort passed the House in 2023 but stalled in the Senate, necessitating its reintroduction in the current Congress. Together, the two bills reflect a broader strategy in Washington to fortify Taiwan's global standing and infrastructure against Beijing's assertive and ambiguous tactics—often employed in the so-called grey zone that falls short of open military conflict. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'China's grey zone tactics': US lawmakers move to defend Taiwan's communication infra; focus on undersea cable
Representative image A bipartisan bill aimed at protecting Taiwan's undersea communication cables from suspected Chinese interference was introduced in the US senate on Wednesday, reported ANI citing the Taipei Times. The Taiwan Undersea Cable Resilience Initiative Act, sponsored by Republican senator John Curtis and Democratic senator Jacky Rosen, both members of the senate foreign relations committee, calls on the US government to help boost the resilience of cables near Taiwan. The bill proposes actions such as deploying real-time monitoring systems, developing rapid-response protocols, enhancing maritime surveillance and promoting international cooperation to prevent sabotage. The initiative comes amid growing concerns over what the senators described as China's 'grey zone tactics,' ambiguous or unconventional actions used to gain strategic advantages without triggering open conflict. A press release accompanying the bill noted that since February 2023, at least 11 undersea cable disruptions have occurred near Taiwan, with many suspected to be deliberate and linked to certain vessels. Senator Curtis said as quoted by the Taipei Times, 'We can't stand idle as China ramps up its tactics to isolate Taiwan, including by sabotaging its vital undersea cables.' He added that strengthening Taiwan's cable defenses would show the US' commitment to protecting shared infrastructure, sovereignty, and freedom. Alongside the cable bill, another piece of legislation, the Taiwan International Solidarity Act was introduced. Co-sponsored by senator Curtis and Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, the bill seeks to clarify that UN general assembly resolution 2758 does not prevent the US from opposing efforts to diminish Taiwan's global presence. The legislation encourages cooperation with allies to push back against China's diplomatic efforts to isolate Taiwan. The Taipei Times reported that a similar bill passed in the house of representatives in May, introduced by Democratic representative Gerry Connolly and Republican representative Young Kim. A version of the bill had also passed the House in 2023 but was not taken up by the Senate. Both newly introduced bills must be approved by the senate and House before they can be signed into law by the president. Resolution 2758, adopted in 1971, transferred China's seat at the UN from Taiwan to the People's Republic of China, effectively barring Taiwan from participating in UN bodies due to its lack of formal recognition.
News18
6 days ago
- Politics
- News18
US Slams China's Strategy to Cripple Taiwan's Communications, Pushes Back with New Legislation
Agency: A press release from the senators cited China's military strategy to disrupt Taiwan's communications by targeting undersea cables. A bipartisan bill aimed at protecting Taiwan's undersea communication cables from Chinese 'grey zone tactics" was introduced in the US Senate yesterday, Taipei Times reported. The Taiwan Undersea Cable Resilience Initiative Act, introduced by Republican Senator John Curtis and Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen, both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, calls on the US government to help strengthen cable resilience near Taiwan. According to Taipei Times, the act urges the Department of State, in coordination with the Departments of Defence and Homeland Security and the Coast Guard, to deploy real-time monitoring systems, develop rapid-response protocols, improve maritime surveillance, and enhance international cooperation to defend against sabotage. Grey zone tactics refer to ambiguous or unconventional actions used to gain a strategic advantage without triggering open conflict. A press release from the senators cited China's military strategy to disrupt Taiwan's communications by targeting undersea cables. Since February 2023, at least 11 disruptions near Taiwan have been reported, mostly linked to vessels suspected of deliberate interference, according to the release. Senator Curtis was quoted by Taipei Times as saying, 'We can't stand idle as China ramps up its tactics to isolate Taiwan, including by sabotaging its vital undersea cables." He added that improving monitoring and cable resilience 'sends a clear message: the United States stands with Taiwan and our allies in defending shared infrastructure, sovereignty, and freedom." Also introduced yesterday was the Taiwan International Solidarity Act, co-sponsored by Senators Curtis and Chris Van Hollen. The bill aims to clarify that United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 does not prevent the US from using its influence to oppose efforts to undermine Taiwan's international standing. The legislation encourages cooperation with allies to counter China's attempts to isolate Taiwan diplomatically. Taipei Times noted that a House version of the bill, introduced by Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly and Republican Rep. Young Kim, passed in May. A similar bill passed the House in 2023 but was not taken up by the Senate and had to be reintroduced with the new Congress. Both bills must pass the Senate and House before being sent to the president for approval. UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, adopted in 1971, transferred China's UN seat from Taiwan to the People's Republic of China, effectively excluding Taiwan from UN bodies due to a lack of formal recognition. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments First Published: July 10, 2025, 13:20 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Mint
17-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Renewable energy firm EDPR sticking to US plans despite tax credit cuts
EDPR plans to install up to 1.75 GW in new capacity in U.S. Republican lawmakers want to repeal renewables incentives CEO says company not changing its installation targets LISBON, - EDP Renovaveis, the world's fourth-largest wind energy producer, will stick to its goal of installing up to 1.75 gigawatts of new capacity in the U.S. by the end of 2026 even if tax credits for renewables are phased out, its CEO said. The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives approved a budget reconciliation bill last month, which weakens clean-energy tax credits included in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. Though the Senate could still amend the bill, in its current form it would abruptly terminate several credits 60 days after its enactment for projects that have not yet begun construction, making most of them unfeasible. "For 2025 and 2026, I think we will maintain our forecasts in terms of results and installation of new capacity," the Portuguese firm's CEO Miguel Stilwell d'Andrade told reporters on the sidelines of a conference late on Monday. EDPR is currently preparing a new business plan to be disclosed on November 6 that will go beyond 2027. "The renewables bet in the U.S. is here to stay. In 2024, we installed 2 GW there and this year we will install 1 GW and up to 750 megawatts in 2026 as planned," he said. The exact level of investment from 2027 onwards would depend on what is approved in the final version of the reconciliation bill, he added. "Let's see what comes out of the Senate," he said. Senator John Curtis, one of a handful of Senate Republicans who have said they want to preserve some of the tax credits, said last week that changes to the bill were necessary to protect investors and jobs from major disruption. EDPR, which operates in 28 countries across Europe, Asia and the Americas, had installed capacity of 19.3 GW in December 2024, 51% of which was in the United States.
