The rivalry between the United States and China is now extending to the underwater realm, with efforts to curb the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) subsea cable projects intensifying. Subsea cables, which carry telecommunication signals across oceans, are responsible for nearly all intercontinental data traffic. Countries worldwide are seeking ways to prevent interception and eavesdropping on these cables when they reach land. Recent developments include a $95 million agreement between Japan, the U.S., and Australia to build a submarine cable in Micronesia, as well as the exclusion of Chinese companies from participating in the construction of a submarine cable connecting Hong Kong to Europe. The expansion of subsea cable projects has raised concerns over potential information leaks and data theft. The Chinese regime has been challenging U.S. dominance in the subsea cable market through its tech giant Huawei, which established a joint venture called Huawei Marine Networks in 2008. Huawei’s strategy has been to target markets ignored by major players and gain market share through government subsidies. Critics argue that Beijing is using “debt-trap diplomacy” to seize strategic assets in underwater cable projects. The CCP also promotes its Belt and Road Initiative through underwater cable projects such as the Pakistan & East Africa Connecting Europe (PEACE) fiber-optic cable. These developments reflect the growing competition between the U.S. and China in the digital economy and the focus on information control and influence.