China claims ignorance regarding monitoring of its ship after data cable cuts in Baltic Sea
The Swedish navy has concluded its investigation of one damaged sea cable and is now shifting its focus to a second cable, with the results expected to be passed on to the police.
Chinese authorities have refuted any knowledge of their vessel being monitored by Swedish and Danish forces in connection to the cutting of undersea data cables in the Baltic Sea.
The Chinese cargo ship Yi Peng 3’s movements coincided with the timing of the cable damage between Lithuania and Sweden, as well as between Finland and Germany, according to Swedish authorities.
While the vessel was in close proximity to the incidents, no direct connection has been confirmed, and investigations are ongoing.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian stated during a regular news briefing that Chinese authorities were unaware of the ship being monitored but were willing to communicate with relevant parties.
Jian emphasized the importance of protecting the Chinese ship’s right to navigate normally.
Two undersea fiber-optic cables in the Baltic Sea were damaged, one between Lithuania and Sweden on Nov. 17, and another between Finland and Germany on Nov. 18, less than 24 hours later.
The incidents occurred in Sweden’s exclusive economic zone. Swedish prosecutors initiated a preliminary investigation on Nov. 19 based on suspicion of possible sabotage.
Sweden Takes Incident ‘Very Seriously’
Swedish Civil Defense Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin expressed to The Epoch Times via email that the government is closely monitoring the situation and taking it very seriously. He emphasized the importance of obtaining clarity on the cause of the event.
A spokesperson for the Swedish navy mentioned that they’ve been coordinating closely with the police throughout the process.
He stated that units have been at sea since Tuesday documenting the damage to the cables, with work already completed on one and ongoing on the other. The timeframe for completion depends on factors like weather and visibility on the seabed.
He refrained from commenting on the results, citing pre-trial confidentiality, with the results to be shared with the prosecutor/police.
A spokesperson for the Danish armed forces informed The Epoch Times that they are in the vicinity of the Yi Peng 3 but had no further comments at the moment.
Bohlin stated on Nov. 20 that the movements of the ship were observed by the Swedish armed forces and coast guard.
He highlighted the correspondences in the ship movements with the cable disruptions, raising suspicions.
The Yi Peng 3 has been anchored in the Kattegat Strait since late on Nov. 18, according to data from the maritime tracking service MarineTraffic.
Data revealed that Danish navy ships DNK Navy Patrol P525 and HDMS Hvidbjoernen were near the vessel in the Danish Straits, although they have since shifted positions.
Cuts Not Accidental: German Minister
The 135-mile internet link between Lithuania and Sweden’s Gotland Island went out of service around 8 a.m. (GMT) on Nov. 17, according to Lithuania’s Telia Lietuva.
Subsequently, the Finnish company Cinia reported that a 745-mile C-Lion1 cable, connecting Helsinki to the German port of Rostock, also ceased operations at around 2 a.m. (GMT) on Nov. 18.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius dismissed the possibility of accidental damage caused by ship anchors or routine maritime activities.
He asserted that the cables were intentionally damaged, likely as an act of sabotage.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
