Sweden calls on Chinese ship to return to its waters for investigation into mysterious undersea cable cut
Currently, at least three coast guard and naval vessels from NATO countries are shadowing the Chinese vessel Yi Peng 3.
Sweden is requesting the return of a Chinese vessel to assist in investigating mysterious breaches of undersea fiber-optic cables.
Two undersea fiber-optic cables in the Baltic Sea were damaged shortly after the Chinese cargo ship Yi Peng 3’s movements, aligning with the timeline of the incidents.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated at a press conference on Nov. 26 that, “From the Swedish side, we have had contact with the ship and contact with China and said that we want the ship to move toward Swedish waters. We’re not making any accusations but we seek clarity on what has happened. This is the second time in a relatively short period of time that there have been serious physical cable breaches.”
Cables
Telia Lietuva’s 135-mile cable between Lithuania and Sweden’s Gotland went offline on Nov. 17 at 8 a.m., followed by the 745-mile Cinia C-Lion1 cable linking Finland and Germany, which failed on Nov. 18 at 2 a.m.
The Chinese vessel Yi Peng 3 traveled through the Baltic Sea when the two incidents occurred and is currently stationary in international waters within Denmark’s exclusive economic zone.
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China’s foreign ministry stated on Nov. 25 that Beijing has maintained “smooth communication” with all parties involved
Regarding the monitoring of the Chinese vessel, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian mentioned at a news briefing that Chinese authorities were unaware of the surveillance but were prepared to “maintain communication” with relevant parties while asserting the right of the Chinese ship to normal navigation.
In response to the incidents, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius expressed suspicions of deliberate sabotage of the cables.
NATO Countries
Currently, at least three coast guard and naval vessels from NATO countries are tracking the Chinese vessel.
As per Marine Traffic, the German coast guard dispatched the patrol ship Bad Düben near the vessel. The Swedish coast guard patrol ship Poseidon (KBV 001) is also in close proximity.
A Danish armed forces spokesperson informed The Epoch Times that they are in the vicinity of the Yi Peng 3 but had no further comments at the time.
Authorities in Sweden and Finland have launched investigations into the matter.
A spokesperson for the Swedish navy stated via email to The Epoch Times that they are not directly monitoring the Chinese vessel but are collaborating with law enforcement to investigate the cable breaches.
He mentioned that on Nov. 24, the ships examining the cable breakage sites returned for resupply and to wait for improved weather conditions.
The NBI’s Detective Superintendent Risto Lohi confirmed that authorities are aware of the nearby ships during the cable ruptures but refrained from further comments specific to the Chinese vessel.
Grey Zone
The C-Lion1 cable runs parallel to the Nord Stream pipelines.
The multimillion-dollar Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, transporting gas beneath the Baltic Sea, were ruptured by explosions in the Swedish and Danish economic zones in September 2022, releasing significant methane into the atmosphere seven months after the onset of the Russia–Ukraine conflict.
Furthermore, the incidents in the Baltic Sea occurred shortly after the suspected damaging of an Estonia–Finland gas pipeline and undersea cables between Estonia, Finland, and Sweden by the Hong Kong-registered Newnew Polar Bear container ship over a year ago.
Experts at Taiwan’s Institute for National Defense and Security Research suggest that due to Beijing’s abilities and previous usage of gray zone warfare tactics, China is a key suspect in the current events.
Su Tzu-yun, director of the institute’s division of defense strategy and resources, told The Epoch Times that suspicions of Russian and CCP involvement were reasonable, given China and Russia’s underwater capabilities and past incidents involving cable damage in Europe.
Russia has denied any involvement in the cable damage.
Contributions to this report were made by Reuters and Epoch Times reporter Lily Zhou.
