00:00Chair Driver, Vice-Chair Kagan, Distinguished Members of the Commission,
00:04It is an honor to appear before you today on what I believe is one of the most urgent security
00:10challenges facing Taiwan and the broader Indo-Pacific region, China's deliberate campaign
00:15against undersea cable infrastructure. What we are witnessing under the sea is not an isolated
00:20maritime accident. It is a systematic pressure, calibrated, deniable and escalated. Taiwan
00:26connects to the world through just 24 undersea cables. These cables sustain Taiwan's semiconductor
00:33manufacturing, financial markets, civilian communication, government and military command
00:39systems. A prolonged disruption would not only inconvenience 23 million people, one estimate
00:45places the economic cost at 55 million per day before accounting for critical damage on global
00:52semiconductor supply chains. The Taiwan Strait is not just a geopolitical fault line. It is a data
00:59artery of global economy. In conclusion, the United States has a narrowing window to strengthen
01:05deterrence before crisis dictates the response. China will continue gray zone operations as long as the
01:12costs remain low and ambiguity remain exploitable. Before I close, I want to speak directly as a former
01:18legislator from Taiwan. Taiwan's legislature must pass the urgent defense budget. Taiwan's national security
01:25cannot be a partisan issue.
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