Philippines and Taiwan Discuss Cooperation on Cable Protection

• The Philippines and Taiwan are discussing deeper cooperation to protect underwater cables from Chinese activities.
• The Philippines aims to become a regional digital hub, but concerns about regulatory delays and oversight exist.
• Chinese activities have pressured both the Philippines and Taiwan without direct confrontation.
• PLDT, the Philippines' largest telecommunications company, and analysts warn that slow approvals and limited monitoring could undermine the country's digital hub goal.
• A forum on archipelagic governance for subsea cables highlighted the need for better oversight and faster approvals.