Beijing now has the power to disrupt global communications after scientists revealed a device that can sever undersea cables.

The tool, which is able to cut lines at depths of up to 4,000 metres (13,123 feet) – twice the maximum operational range of existing subsea communication infrastructure – has been designed specifically for integration with China’s advanced crewed and uncrewed submersibles like the Fendouzhe, or Striver, and the Haidou series.

      • optissima@lemmy.mlEnglish
        31·
        29 days ago

        We literally have starlink and the US run by fascists with nukes. I don’t mind seeing other countries that they threaten ready to combat their information systems.

        • DicksAndPizza@lemm.eeEnglish
          33·
          29 days ago

          Yeah, but that’s only as long as they target the US with their bullshit. Dictatorships don’t exactly have a history of stopping after „defeating“ their enemy. They’ll find new ones (spoiler it’s gonna be Europe).

          • Boxscape@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
            11·
            29 days ago

            Dictatorships don’t exactly have a history of stopping after „defeating“ their enemy. They’ll find new ones

            Fr dawg.

            Also, I don’t really want to have to learn Mandarin, nom sayin’?

            I’m firmly in middle age and don’t have the mental capacity to memorize 30,000 Chinese characters or whatever the count is.

            • DicksAndPizza@lemm.eeEnglish
              5·
              29 days ago

              You don’t have the mental capacity to learn mandarin? lol that’s pretty nicely worded. I simply don’t have the fucks and would rather die than learn that language. I had enough trouble with French. And they use „normal“ letters.

          • optissima@lemmy.mlEnglish
            2·
            29 days ago

            Is this like how they targeted African countries economies with the Belt and Road Initiative?

            • DicksAndPizza@lemm.eeEnglish
              2·
              28 days ago

              Idk. That at least has some mild benefits for the countries. In the form of investions and infrastructure.

              Cutting cables is just an act of war if you ask me.

    • Monument@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
      5·
      29 days ago

      That seems less concerning to me after reading the article.

      Russia and the US are also known to conduct proximity operations to their own and other satellites, she added.
      […]
      Referring to China’s operations as “dogfighting” in space is “not helpful” because it “automatically ascribes hostile intentions to activities that frankly the US also undertakes,” Samson added.

      It’s concerning that they are developing the capability (which can be used in multiple ways) in the same way that any geopolitical rival developing capacity that competes is concerning, but “dogfighting” evokes the idea that China is planning to fly around and blow stuff up, in an irresponsible, Kessler syndrome-inducing way.