SEPTEMBER 16 — In Tokyo, the Japanese government has launched a meticulous investigation into the supply chains of undersea telecommunications cables, with particular attention on their exposure to Chinese firms for now.
But the general sense of caution will not stop there at all since the spectrum and nature of threats are not necessarily country specific. Non state actors can be just as hostile to Japan.
At first glance, the initiative may appear technical and narrowly focused. Yet beneath the surface, it signals something much larger: an awareness that in the 21st century, the ownership, construction, and control of the wires under the sea are as consequential as the control of land and air above.
For Asean, which is increasingly reliant on digital trade, financial technology, and real-time data flows, Japan’s decision is not just a domestic safeguard. It is a warning, and perhaps more importantly, a model for what the region itself must do if it is serious about securing its economic future.
Why subsea cables matter
Over 95 per cent of international internet and telecommunications data travels through undersea fibre-optic cables. These invisible arteries power everything from financial transactions and supply chain management to remote education, streaming platforms, and confidential state communications.
Their importance is rarely acknowledged until something goes wrong. A severed cable can cut off entire nations from global markets. An outage can cripple e-commerce, delay shipping logistics, or paralyse banking operations. In the worst cases, sabotage could compromise government security systems or critical infrastructure.
Japan recognises these stakes. By classifying subsea cables as critical national infrastructure, Tokyo has elevated them to the same level of importance as energy grids or airports.
This mindset — treating digital lifelines as a national security concern rather than a technical afterthought — is precisely what Asean must learn to emulate.
Japan’s approach: Lessons in vigilance
Japan’s investigation is driven by three imperatives, all of which Asean can adapt.
First, building resilience and diversification.
Japan is seeking to ensure that no single actor, whether foreign government or corporate provider, can monopolise or coerce its connectivity. Supply chains are being audited to map dependencies, identify vulnerabilities, and plan for redundancies.
Second, confronting geographic vulnerabilities.
Japan relies on a limited number of cable routes for its international data flows.
Earthquakes, volcanic activity, or maritime accidents — like anchors dragging across cables in the East China Sea — could disable entire lines. For this reason, Tokyo is prioritising alternative routes and backup systems.
Third, scrutinising supplier concentration.
The global subsea cable industry is dominated by a handful of firms, with Chinese companies such as HMN Technologies, linked to Huawei, expanding aggressively.
Japan’s caution reflects an understanding that dependence on a small pool of providers creates vulnerabilities that adversaries could exploit in times of geopolitical tension.
These three imperatives — resilience, geography, and diversification — offer a blueprint for Asean’s own policy response.
Asean’s exposure: The geography of risk
Asean’s geography compounds its vulnerabilities. The region sits at the world’s maritime crossroads, where congested sea lanes, territorial disputes, and overlapping exclusive economic zones converge.
Cables connecting Asean economies must often traverse contested waters, subject to lengthy permitting procedures and unpredictable local politics. In an emergency, delays in granting repair access could extend outages from days to weeks. Worse, if political leverage is exercised over these choke points, entire states could be cut off, destabilising the broader region.
Natural disasters add further complexity. Earthquakes in the Luzon Strait, volcanic eruptions in Indonesia, or storms in the South China Sea could easily damage critical infrastructure. Unlike pipelines or power lines on land, cables under the sea are uniquely difficult to monitor and repair.
From weakness to opportunity
Yet Asean should not see itself solely as a victim of circumstance. Within these vulnerabilities lie strategic opportunities. By learning from Japan, the region can transform undersea cables from invisible utilities into critical assets that are protected, funded, and secured.
Step one is recognition. Cables must be classified as critical infrastructure across Asean. This legal recognition would obligate governments to safeguard them, dedicate budgetary resources, and integrate them into national disaster and security strategies.
Step two is capacity building. Asean can pool resources to develop regional expertise in cable landing stations, repair vessels, and specialised technical teams. Shared facilities and joint ventures would reduce costs while boosting bargaining power with global suppliers.
Step three is transparency and standards. Common rules for supply chain disclosure, ownership structures, and monitoring systems would help ensure trust among member states and reduce exposure to hidden vulnerabilities.
Connectivity as a collective good
Asean thrives on the principle of regional interdependence. Nowhere is this more visible than in digital trade. Cross-border e-commerce, fintech platforms, artificial intelligence development, and logistics management depend on seamless connectivity.
Protecting subsea cables must therefore be treated as a collective good. Multiple landing stations, diverse cable routes, and alternative paths that bypass contested maritime areas will not only reduce disruption risks but also guarantee redundancy in times of crisis.
Diplomacy has a role too. Asean states, as maritime nations, share a vested interest in keeping sea lanes and seabeds open. A regional framework under Asean could: streamline permitting for emergency repairs, ensure mutual recognition of repair rights, and defend the principle of unhindered passage for cable-related operations.
This would transform cable protection from a patchwork of national rules into a regional shield.
Japan as an Advanced Comprehensive Strategic Partner
Japan’s vigilance is not paranoia. It reflects the reality of a new era of strategic competition. Subsea cables are no longer just technical utilities — they are targets, assets, and levers of power. Besides Japan is the only member in East Asian Summit that has the status of Advanced Comprehensive Strategic Partner.
Asean must read Tokyo’s actions as both a signal and an invitation. If Japan, with its advanced technological ecosystem and strong state capacity, sees the need to diversify, scrutinise, and fortify, then Asean — more fragmented and geographically vulnerable — has even greater urgency to act.
Moreover, Japan’s willingness to treat cables as national infrastructure demonstrates the value of foresight. Asean, often reactive to crises, must learn to be proactive. Waiting until sabotage or outage strikes would be far costlier than preventive investment and coordination today.
The stakes for Asean’s future
The stakes could not be higher. Asean’s economic future rests increasingly on digital trade. By 2030, e-commerce in Southeast Asia is projected to surpass US$1 trillion, while fintech adoption is accelerating across every member state.
Artificial intelligence applications, cloud computing, and smart logistics will only deepen reliance on seamless connectivity.
But without secure and resilient undersea cables, this digital promise could collapse under the weight of outages, coercion, or sabotage. Vulnerabilities would be magnified, investments deterred, and Asean’s credibility as a growth hub undermined.
In short, Asean’s future prosperity, sovereignty, and independence are inseparable from its ability to protect the hidden arteries beneath its seas.
Conclusion: From silence to strategy
For too long, subsea cables have been treated as silent infrastructure, invisible until they fail.
That mindset is no longer tenable. The seas of Asean do not just carry ships, oil tankers, or fishing fleets. They carry the lifeblood of our digital economies, our societies, and our future.
Japan has sounded the alarm, transforming a technical concern into a strategic priority.
Asean must learn from Tokyo’s foresight. By elevating undersea cables to the level of critical infrastructure, diversifying supply chains, pooling resources, and institutionalising protection under a regional framework, Asean can shield itself from vulnerabilities and harness cables as instruments of resilience and sovereignty.
If Asean wishes to chart a confident course in the digital century, it must start by safeguarding the invisible arteries beneath its waters. Securing undersea cables is not simply about technology. It is about trade, sovereignty, and the region’s independence.
And above all, it is about learning from Japan: seeing clearly, acting decisively, and protecting what lies hidden — before it is too late.
* Phar Kim Beng, PhD, is Professor of Asean Studies and Director of the Institute of International and Asean Studies (IINTAS) at the International Islamic University of Malaysia.
** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
