A U.S. Coast Guard cutter crossing the Tasman Sea as part of maritime security cooperation with Australia and New Zealand knew Chinese naval ships were in the area but had no interaction with them, its commanding officer said on Tuesday.

The Taiwanese coast guard has detained a Chinese cargo ship and its crew as it investigates the destruction of an undersea communication cable.

Three of the individuals have died, one person was listed in critical condition and another person was listed in stable condition, police said.