Taiwanese authorities say a cargo ship with an all-Chinese crew is suspected of having damaged an international undersea cable near Taiwan last Friday.

The officials have hinted they cannot rule out the possibility that the damage is the result of sabotage conducted by China.

Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration said on Monday that it is investigating an incident in which a Cameroon-flagged cargo vessel is suspected of having damaged a cable off the northern coast of Taiwan.

It noted that the ship is owned by a Hong Kong-registered company and that all seven members of the crew were Chinese nationals.

Taiwanese media outlets say the vessel is believed to have dropped its anchor while it was sailing in the area.

After receiving a report from the telecom operator, Chunghwa Telecom, the coast guard agency dispatched a unit to the site and identified the vessel. But officers were unable to board it, due to rough weather.

Taiwan has reportedly asked South Korea to help with its investigation, as the vessel later headed for Busan, South Korea.

The Coast Guard Administration said that while the vessel's intentions remain unclear, it may have conducted what can be described as "gray zone harassment."