China opposes politicizing undersea cable cooperation

International submarine cables are vital civilian infrastructure that underpins global connectivity and directly affects the well-being of people around the world, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, warning against politicizing or securitizing the issue.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian made the remarks in response to a question about reports that the United States is concerned over China's involvement in building undersea fiber-optic cables in the Americas and across the Pacific.

"Politicizing and overstretching the concept of security in relation to submarine cables will only undermine normal international market rules, threaten global data connectivity and cybersecurity, and serve no one's interests," he said at a regular news briefing.

"China has consistently supported international cooperation on submarine cables under the principles of fairness, justice, equality and inclusiveness. China stands ready to work with the international community to actively advance the construction and protection of global information infrastructure, including submarine cables," Lin said.