If the intent was to monitor communications, why would they cut multiple cables simultaneously? That only draws more attention. I don't buy the "test to see if

If the intent was to monitor communications, why would they cut multiple cables simultaneously? That only draws more attention. I don't buy the "test to see if they could actually cut this many cables simultaneously" idea. Cutting cables is not fundamentally difficult -- they are not even armored below a certain depth. It would also be a very expensive, complicated, and potentially embarrassing test.