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Trans-Pacific Cable Plans Mired In US-China Geopolitical Rivalry

An anonymous reader writes "Attempts to build a new telecommunications cable between the US, New Zealand and Australia have become a nexus for the growing rivalry between the U.S. and China in the Pacific. The U.S. is reportedly creating a technology ring fence to match its military one and contain China's ambitions in the Pacific. The U.S. military could even help pay for any planned new cable to link its bases in American Samoa with its expanding military presence in Australia's Northern Territory. It has been made 'very clear' U.S. authorities would not allow significant Chinese investment in one cable project and it followed that they would not tolerate the use of Chinese gear in its construction. 'It was made very clear. These are cables connecting whole countries. These are very political things,' one insider said."

4 of 162 comments (clear)

  1. NSA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Of course they need to lay NSA tapped cables.

    1. Re:NSA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Makes one wonder if China's backdoors might conflict with the NSA installed backdoors.

  2. toleration violation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    would not tolerate the use of Chinese gear in its construction.

    Given the USAs recent activities, maybe the use of USA companies and gear should also not be tolerated.

  3. Giving the example to the world by gmuslera · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Now if the rest of the world have a hint, they just need to use their own words

    It has been made 'very clear' (some country) authorities would not allow significant U.S. investment in one cable project and it followed that they would not tolerate the use of U.S. gear in its construction. 'It was made very clear. These are cables connecting whole countries. These are very political things,' one insider said."

    Brazil is already doing something of this, and more countries should follow.