The Fragmentation of Inter‐State Cooperation
Submarine Cable Governance in an Age of Strategic Competition
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12498469 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Wenlong Zhu (0000-0002-6538-9905, Gannan Normal University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 143-157 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-17 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Pacific Focus (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1225-4657 • E-ISSN: 1976-5118 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/pafo.70023 |
| OpenAlex | W7139018353 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 25 |
This article investigates the manifestation and drivers of the fragmentation of inter‐state cooperation in submarine cable governance, and analyzes China's strategic positioning within this landscape. It argues that the fragmentation is manifested in both forms and agendas. On one hand, the fragmentation stems from the interplay of a state's calculus of willingness and capacity to cooperate, which gives rise to a spectrum of cooperative outcomes ranging from binding hard law to noncooperation. These outcomes are empirically validated by Singapore's practices. On the other hand, the fragmentation is also influenced by the unique geographic, commercial, public, and strategic attributes of the cables themselves. China's engagement in submarine cable governance presents a paradox. Despite its stature as a digital power, its achievements are limited. This is constrained internally by conflicting willingness and insufficient capacity, and externally by geopolitical exclusion and partner scarcity. Consequently, the article proposes that China's viable path forward is a pragmatic strategy of “managed participation,” which entails domestic regulatory reform, tiered international engagement, and the leveraging of its commercial and technical prowess to navigate the entrenched geopolitical competition. The resolution of the complex governance fragmentation will contribute to the safety and resilience of submarine cables and international connectivity
Competition (biology · Corporate governance · Fragmentation (computing · Geopolitics · Submarine · Cybersecurity and Cyber Warfare Studies · International Maritime Law Issues · International Relations and Foreign Policy
Maritime boundary disputes
The protection of submarine cables in Southeast Asia
Undersea cable security in the Indo‐Pacific
Heading in the direction of bifurcated networks
The Pure Theory of Public Expenditure
Rationalism and the “rational actor assumption” in realist international relations theory
The Fragmentation of Global Governance Architectures
Dangerous depths of bifurcation
Protecting hidden infrastructure
The changing strategic significance of submarine cables
Coalitions of the Willing and Responsibilities to Protect
Coalitional Power and Public Goods
An Economic Theory of Clubs
Dominance and Leadership in the International Economy
Anarchy and the limits of cooperation
The rise and fall of American hegemony from Wilson to Trump
| Highly cited | No |
|---|