Tag: Sweden – China – severed cables – cooperation

Sweden Urges China’s Cooperation in Severed Cables Investigation

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Sweden Seeks China’s Cooperation in Baltic Sea Cable Damage Probe

Sweden has formally requested China’s assistance in investigating the severance of two critical undersea cables in the Baltic Sea, which occurred on November 17 and 18. These cables connected Sweden to Lithuania and Finland to Germany. Suspicion has fallen on the Chinese vessel Yi Peng Three, believed to have been in the vicinity at the time.

The ship, which departed Russia’s Ust-Luga port on November 15, is suspected of deliberately damaging the cables by dragging its anchor along the seabed. The vessel remains anchored in international waters off Denmark, monitored by the Danish navy, while Sweden has asked for it to return to Swedish waters for inspection.

China has denied sabotage allegations, with its foreign ministry affirming willingness to collaborate with Sweden and other nations to uncover the truth.

The incidents add to a series of undersea infrastructure attacks in the Baltic Sea, intensifying regional tensions since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Similar cases include damage to the Nord Stream pipelines and a telecom cable between Estonia and Sweden.

Sweden Urges China to Collaborate on Severed Cable Investigation

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Sweden Seeks China’s Cooperation Over Baltic Sea Cable Sabotage

Sweden has formally requested China’s assistance in investigating the severed Baltic Sea cables, amid suspicions linking a Chinese ship, the Yi Peng Three, to the incidents.

On November 17 and 18, cables connecting Sweden to Lithuania and Finland to Germany were damaged in Swedish territorial waters. Ship tracking data suggests the Yi Peng Three, which left the Russian port of Ust-Luga on November 15, passed over the cables during the incidents. Investigators suspect the vessel may have dragged its anchor along the seabed to cause deliberate damage.

While Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson emphasized the need for clarity and called for the ship to return to Swedish waters for inspection, China’s foreign ministry denied involvement in sabotage and expressed willingness to cooperate.

The incidents, echoing previous undersea infrastructure attacks in the Baltic region, have heightened concerns over maritime security.