US-China competition over submarine cables in the East Sea (2020-2025)

Abstract

In the 4.0 era, digital infrastructure has become the foundation for economic development and
national security. Submarine optical cable systems are considered invisible “main arteries”, transmitting
more than 95% of global internet and data traffic, connecting continents and serving as the backbone of the
digital economy. The strategic importance has turned submarine cable routes in sensitive geopolitical areas,
especially the East Sea, into a new front of competition between the US and China. The article examines the
importance of submarine cables in the East Sea; the strategic goals of the US and China in developing
submarine cables; specific competitive measures, and assessing the impact on the two countries and the
region.