Bypassing Beijing: The Undersea Battle for Southeast Asia's Digital Future The recent announcement of a $14 billion trans Pacific internet cable that will bypass the South China Sea is just the latest salvo in an ongoing struggle for control over Southeast Asia's digital infrastructure.
This development has significant implications, driven by Washington's concerns about China's growing influence in the region. At its core, this conflict is not about technology but geopolitics.
The subsea cable is merely a conduit for data; the real prize is control over the networks that underpin the internet itself.