Sweden seeks China’s answers over Baltic Sea cable sabotage
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced on Thursday during a conference in Harpsund, Sweden, that we have submitted an official request to China for cooperation in clarifying the issue of the severed telecommunications cables in the Baltic Sea.
29 November 2024 07:24
- Fundamentally, this does not change anything regarding the situation, but it underscores our firm intention to inspect the ship (the Chinese vessel Yi Peng 3) to ascertain what really occurred - emphasised Kristersson.
Previously, the Swedish Prime Minister stated that Sweden would like the ship, located in the Kattegat Strait in international waters, to enter Swedish territorial waters.
Since last week, the Chinese vessel has been under the watch of the Danish navy and the Swedish coast guard.
Severing of two undersea cables
On 17th and 18th November, there was damage to two undersea telecommunications cables: one connecting Lithuania with Sweden and the other connecting Finland with Germany. The incidents occurred in the Swedish economic zone, southeast of Gotland Island and south of Öland Island. Yi Peng 3 departed from an oil port in Russia.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that investigators investigating the severing of communication cables on the Baltic Sea floor suspect that the detained Chinese container ship Yi Peng 3 deliberately cut the cables. It allegedly dragged an anchor for over 160 kilometres. According to the newspaper, the investigation is focusing on whether Russian services commissioned the sabotage.
