Taipei, April 2 -- A Chinese-flagged work barge is suspected of having damaged an undersea telecommunications cable near Dongyin, part of Taiwan-administered Matsu Islands, during a salvage mission.

Authorities said on Wednesday that the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) has questioned the vessel's captain, according to a report by the Central News Agency.

The vessel, Hai Hong Gong 66, had been operating late on March 30 to remove a stranded Chinese fishing boat, Min Lian Yu 63896, when it allegedly caused partial damage to the core wires of the Taiwan-Matsu Subsea Cable No. 3, as per the CGA's Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Branch.

The CGA stated it received a report on March 31 from Chunghwa Telecom about a malfunction in the Dongyin-Beigan sect...