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The article cites “security concerns”, but I think “geopolitical concerns” are more likely. However, MITM has always been an advantageous position for bad acto

The article cites “security concerns”, but I think “geopolitical concerns” are more likely. However, MITM has always been an advantageous position for bad actors. So this is probably the concern, without evidence.

rootsudo 5y ago
But Taiwan is also the same status of HK for China. Granted they do have more autonomy and are fighting back. Taiwan was a four tiger of Asia, now, not so much, and Philippines same. Philippines has geography and it's own internet issues with PLDT and Globe the two biggest telecom players are not doing changes because they are blocked by the government at all layers and vice versa, with the government more interested in bringing in and establishing a third telecom backed by China called Dito https://www.dito.ph/ https://www.dito.ph/ Until 2016, there was no internet peering in the Philippines because Globe and PLDT really did not want to cooperate with each other, all traffic had to exit the PH via SG/HK and come back.
- gscott 5y ago
  The Chinese government isn't exactly arresting Taiwanese for walking alone with a yellow umbrella or alone holding a candle. No diabolical authoritarian government there to take away their free will, yet.
  - xwolfi 5y ago
    They re not either in Hong Kong. I do all that and am not arrested. The arrests are for slogans or song that sound independentist. An insecure phase other countries went through and usually grow out of with time.
    - dillondoyle 5y ago
      What's the insecure phase to grow out of? Like CCP is insecure, as in like the connotation of a Napoleon complex driving a giant pickup truck? What does growing out of this phase mean to you?
  - bostonsre 5y ago
    They are sending fighter jet squadrons into their airspace pretty much constantly though. I don't see any likely scenario where Taiwan maintains sovereignty in the next ten to twenty years. They will either be assimilated as a useful puppet or there will be military action to bring Taiwan in line. China has been flexing their military might for a while now and they can't afford to look weak by backing down or letting Taiwan build up their defenses further.
    - cinquemb 5y ago
      > … or there will be military action to bring Taiwan in line. I don't see how this won't cause further escalation… perhaps just one ohio class authorized to target up to 288 civilian and military installations needed to "bring Taiwan in line"…
      - bostonsre 5y ago
        What other escalation would there be if the ccp invades and installs a new government or just makes it part of China? I think that would be game over for Taiwan and the only blowback on China would be sanctions. It would go over exactly like what happened with Russia in the Ukraine. Everyone would be pissed at China but no one would want to start ww3.
        cinquemb 5y ago
        Perhaps an ohio class sub can be leased (crew and all) to the ROC and under direct command of the civilian leadership… Of course none of this has to be made public with the proper FISA authorizations… In such a scenario the PRC is the one starting ww3, but perhaps not if the ROC goes public and states that its simply defending itself… if NK can get away with it, I don't see why any other nation state cannot pursue the same strategy… PRC would know something like this is in place when the ROC no longer decides to scramble the fighters as much :P
        hollerith 5y ago
        The US Navy could impose a blockade. I don't like that option, but the US does have options other than sanctions. It could also counterinvade Taiwan.
- Dylan16807 5y ago
  Taiwan's not in the middle of being taken over by the mainland chinese government, and it's also not a location data would go through to reach other countries.
  - thaumasiotes 5y ago
    > Taiwan's not in the middle of being taken over by the mainland chinese government Neither is Hong Kong; that happened in 1997.
    - dillondoyle 5y ago
      You don't consider there to be marked change between the last few years and the previous 20? in law, application of authoritarian power, and crackdown on speech and democracy movements?
      - thaumasiotes 5y ago
        The change in law is not especially great. The change in exercise of power is bigger. Crackdown on speech and democracy movements? If in one year, there are no protest movements and no crackdowns, and in a later year there are several protests and several crackdowns, has the level of cracking-down-on-protests gone up?
        dillondoyle 5y ago
        Both yes and I feel like you are purposefully ignoring recent events. In recent history, there were record breaking, HUGE protests of thousands and thousands HKers with umbrellas, at first marching mostly unhindered and somewhat successful in at least postponing the illusion of democratic law. Now, lighting a candle gets an activist arrested.
  - bostonsre 5y ago
    They may not be in the middle of being taken over, but the process has definitely started. Ccp jets are being flown into Taiwanese airspace constantly. I don't think China would risk looking weak by backing down and letting Taiwan be free.
- walrus01 5y ago
  The situation in Taiwan for human rights, freedom of the press, freedom of speech and government non-interference of the Internet is radically different than in mainland china.
- toast0 5y ago
  HK is de jure and de facto part of China and subject to its rule, and although China allows some amount of self-governance, national security issues (as tapping a submarine cable would be) are within mainland control. Taiwan is more complicated; it may be de jure part of China, but there are two governments that de facto govern distinct territories.

rootsudo 5y ago

But Taiwan is also the same status of HK for China. Granted they do have more autonomy and are fighting back. Taiwan was a four tiger of Asia, now, not so much, and Philippines same. Philippines has geography and it's own internet issues with PLDT and Globe the two biggest telecom players are not doing changes because they are blocked by the government at all layers and vice versa, with the government more interested in bringing in and establishing a third telecom backed by China called Dito https://www.dito.ph/ https://www.dito.ph/ Until 2016, there was no internet peering in the Philippines because Globe and PLDT really did not want to cooperate with each other, all traffic had to exit the PH via SG/HK and come back.

gscott 5y ago
The Chinese government isn't exactly arresting Taiwanese for walking alone with a yellow umbrella or alone holding a candle. No diabolical authoritarian government there to take away their free will, yet.
- xwolfi 5y ago
  They re not either in Hong Kong. I do all that and am not arrested. The arrests are for slogans or song that sound independentist. An insecure phase other countries went through and usually grow out of with time.
  - dillondoyle 5y ago
    What's the insecure phase to grow out of? Like CCP is insecure, as in like the connotation of a Napoleon complex driving a giant pickup truck? What does growing out of this phase mean to you?
- bostonsre 5y ago
  They are sending fighter jet squadrons into their airspace pretty much constantly though. I don't see any likely scenario where Taiwan maintains sovereignty in the next ten to twenty years. They will either be assimilated as a useful puppet or there will be military action to bring Taiwan in line. China has been flexing their military might for a while now and they can't afford to look weak by backing down or letting Taiwan build up their defenses further.
  - cinquemb 5y ago
    > … or there will be military action to bring Taiwan in line. I don't see how this won't cause further escalation… perhaps just one ohio class authorized to target up to 288 civilian and military installations needed to "bring Taiwan in line"…
    - bostonsre 5y ago
      What other escalation would there be if the ccp invades and installs a new government or just makes it part of China? I think that would be game over for Taiwan and the only blowback on China would be sanctions. It would go over exactly like what happened with Russia in the Ukraine. Everyone would be pissed at China but no one would want to start ww3.
      - cinquemb 5y ago
        Perhaps an ohio class sub can be leased (crew and all) to the ROC and under direct command of the civilian leadership… Of course none of this has to be made public with the proper FISA authorizations… In such a scenario the PRC is the one starting ww3, but perhaps not if the ROC goes public and states that its simply defending itself… if NK can get away with it, I don't see why any other nation state cannot pursue the same strategy… PRC would know something like this is in place when the ROC no longer decides to scramble the fighters as much :P
      - hollerith 5y ago
        The US Navy could impose a blockade. I don't like that option, but the US does have options other than sanctions. It could also counterinvade Taiwan.
Dylan16807 5y ago
Taiwan's not in the middle of being taken over by the mainland chinese government, and it's also not a location data would go through to reach other countries.
- thaumasiotes 5y ago
  > Taiwan's not in the middle of being taken over by the mainland chinese government Neither is Hong Kong; that happened in 1997.
  - dillondoyle 5y ago
    You don't consider there to be marked change between the last few years and the previous 20? in law, application of authoritarian power, and crackdown on speech and democracy movements?
    - thaumasiotes 5y ago
      The change in law is not especially great. The change in exercise of power is bigger. Crackdown on speech and democracy movements? If in one year, there are no protest movements and no crackdowns, and in a later year there are several protests and several crackdowns, has the level of cracking-down-on-protests gone up?
      - dillondoyle 5y ago
        Both yes and I feel like you are purposefully ignoring recent events. In recent history, there were record breaking, HUGE protests of thousands and thousands HKers with umbrellas, at first marching mostly unhindered and somewhat successful in at least postponing the illusion of democratic law. Now, lighting a candle gets an activist arrested.
- bostonsre 5y ago
  They may not be in the middle of being taken over, but the process has definitely started. Ccp jets are being flown into Taiwanese airspace constantly. I don't think China would risk looking weak by backing down and letting Taiwan be free.
walrus01 5y ago
The situation in Taiwan for human rights, freedom of the press, freedom of speech and government non-interference of the Internet is radically different than in mainland china.
toast0 5y ago
HK is de jure and de facto part of China and subject to its rule, and although China allows some amount of self-governance, national security issues (as tapping a submarine cable would be) are within mainland control. Taiwan is more complicated; it may be de jure part of China, but there are two governments that de facto govern distinct territories.