Description: Russian and Chinese boats sailing under false flags have been detected in Europe’s and South China seas and suspected of conducting a coordinated operation in cutting off data cables. Several ships in recent months have been detained on ports in Finland, Denmark and in Taiwan which later turned out to have originated from Chinese companies and sailed of from Russian ports. NATO allies suspected this to be a coordinated sabotage attack on Europe’s data streamlines as well as isolation of Taiwan as China’s top geostrategic priority.
Impact: The elevated level of hybrid threats especially if coordinated by both Russia and China indicate severe miscoordination between Europe and the US in defense of their primary geopolitical interests and critical infrastructure. With the war in Ukraine continuing with no potential resolution in sight as well as the looming threat of a trade war between China and Russia, NATO and US allies would introduce if not directly enforce critical infrastructure protection in context of their military and defense capabilities.