Stockholm [Sweden], November 21: Swedish police are investigating the alleged sabotage of two submarine cables in the Baltic Sea and have placed a Chinese ship under their watch, according to The Guardian on November 20. Danish officials also said the country's navy was following a Chinese-registered cargo ship following the incident.
The C-Lion 1 telecommunications cable linking Finland with Germany and Sweden with Lithuania in the Baltic Sea was severed on November 18. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius described the incidents as acts of "sabotage" while his Swedish and Lithuanian counterparts expressed deep concern. Sweden and Finland are jointly investigating the two incidents on suspicion of sabotage, with Stockholm leading the investigation.
The Chinese ship Yi Peng 3 is believed to have passed through the area of the two cables on November 17 and 18, when the incidents occurred. A Danish naval vessel has been tailing the Yi Peng 3 since it was located in the waters between Sweden and Denmark.
According to the Financial Times, the Yi Peng 3 was en route from the Russian port of Ust-Luga to Port Said in Egypt. The ship left port on November 15 and according to the ship tracking website Marine Traffic, the Yi Peng 3 was traveling near two submarine cables when they were severed on November 17 and 18. The Swedish navy previously said it had identified nearly 100% of the ships in the area where the two cables were severed.
Some media outlets say the Danish navy is detaining the Yi Peng 3 for investigation, but Danish authorities have not made any official announcement about this.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian stressed that China fully and consistently fulfills its duties as a flag state and requires all Chinese vessels to strictly abide by relevant laws and regulations. Russia has also denied any involvement.
As of November 20, the Yi Peng 3 was anchored in the Kattegat Strait between Denmark and Sweden while a Danish navy patrol ship was anchored nearby, according to Reuters. The Danish military confirmed the information and did not comment further.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper