Senator John Curtis raised concerns on May 1 about the vulnerability of global undersea cables during a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, calling for increased U.S. efforts to protect these critical communication lines from threats posed by China.
The issue is significant because undersea cables are essential for international communications and commerce, and their disruption could have major economic and military consequences. Curtis pointed out that these cables have been targeted by the People’s Republic of China as part of covert activities aimed at undermining Taiwan’s security.
Curtis highlighted recent bipartisan legislation he is sponsoring with Senator Jacky Rosen, which would require the Secretary of State to lead an initiative focused on strengthening and monitoring Taiwan’s undersea cables. He referenced a recent visit to Taiwan where he observed firsthand the risks facing this infrastructure: “This Committee recently passed a bill that I have with Senator Rosen, the Critical Undersea Infrastructure Resiliency Act. The bill contains an initiative to harden and monitor Taiwan’s undersea cables and proposes new sanctions.”
During the hearing, Dr. Benjamin Schmitt explained how monitoring technology could help detect potential sabotage: “If you put a fiber optic cable on the seabed, you can start to monitor the vibro-acoustic environment… This is actually what happened in the case of Chunghwa Telecoms line… when last year the Hong Thai 58… cut the cable.” Schmitt described how Taiwanese authorities responded quickly due to early warnings from telecom operators.
Curtis asked about possible impacts if multiple cables were disrupted simultaneously. Schmitt said such an event would immediately affect global economic trade with Taiwan and complicate military coordination: “It won’t stop it because there is satellite backup, but it is something that we really need to think of.”
James O’Brien added that protecting this infrastructure requires government leadership: “It’s unrealistic to expect them [private companies] to monitor… So, this is for the U.S. government to say the future of our economy depends on this infrastructure.”
According to the official website, Curtis served two terms as mayor of Provo before representing Utah in the Senate. He also founded the Conservative Climate Caucus according to his official website.
Curtis ranks among Congress’s most effective Republican members according to his official website. He and his wife Sue have six children and seventeen grandchildren according to his official website.
