Information
Swedish authorities joined Chinese investigators aboard the vessel Yi Peng 3 in the Baltic Sea to observe Beijing’s probe into two severed undersea telecom cables. These cables, connecting Finland to Germany and Sweden to Lithuania, were damaged in mid-November within Swedish territorial waters near Denmark. The Yi Peng 3, which had been tracked above the cables at the time of the damage, has remained at the site since November 19. While Swedish police stated that their role aboard the vessel was strictly observational, a preliminary investigation into potential sabotage is ongoing, separate from the Chinese-led inquiry.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson clarified that Sweden had sought China’s cooperation in the matter but emphasized that no accusations were being directed at Beijing. The incident has sparked broader concerns across Europe, with some officials, including German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, suspecting sabotage tied to Russia’s actions in Ukraine. The Kremlin has dismissed such claims as “absurd.” The investigations continue amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the region.
Source: Reuters, AFP
So what
While it is likely that the Chinese vessel is responsible for destroying the cables, proving it will be difficult. However, it is highly likely that the Chinese-led inquiry will conclude that the ship did nothing wrong, dragging the situation into another he-said-she-said situation. Additionally, it is likely that the ship conducted these actions on behalf of Russia, likely for money rather than directed by China.
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