If necessary, Taiwan will send its navy to help the coast guard respond to any suspicious activity near underwater communication cables. This was stated by the Minister of Defense Wellington Ku, quoted by "Reuters".
He made his statement after a ship bound for China was suspected of damaging such a cable.
Taiwan, which China considers its territory, reported that earlier this month a ship owned by a Hong Kong company but registered in both Cameroon and Tanzania damaged a cable north of the island, but specified that it was unable to verify the intentions of the ship or board it due to bad weather.
The owner of the ship denied involvement, and the Chinese government said that Taiwan was making up accusations before the facts were clear.
The incident was particularly alarming for Taiwan, given that the island has repeatedly complained about Chinese activities in the "gray zone" designed to pressure it without direct confrontation.
In parliament, Ku said the armed forces would closely coordinate with the coast guard and help monitor the areas where the submarine cable is located.
"Once something happens, the coast guard will go out first and the navy will immediately assist if a response is needed," he added.
Taiwan's National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen said the government had already activated a mechanism with "international friends" to exchange information on Chinese maritime activities in the "gray zone", but did not provide further details.
Taiwan's focus will be on ships flying "flags of convenience" - those registered in countries other than their actual owner - and how China could use them in waters around the island, Tsai said.
Taiwan, whose government rejects Beijing's claims to sovereignty, has drawn parallels between the incident near the island and the damage to undersea cables in the Baltic Sea following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Last week, Taiwan's government said Chinese ships flying flags of convenience bore the "mark of evil."