Sweden has boarded a Chinese bulk carrier, Yi Peng 3, at its request to investigate breaches in two undersea fiber-optic cables in the Baltic Sea. The vessel was found stationary near Denmark and Sweden for over a month while diplomats discussed the breach.
The police were only observers during the visit, which took place on Thursday. A preliminary investigation led by Swedish prosecutors is investigating sabotage, with Western intelligence officials confident that the Chinese ship caused the cable breaches. However, their assessment differs on whether they were accidents or deliberate acts.
Sweden has urged the ship to return to aid the investigation, following damage to cables connecting Sweden to Lithuania and Finland. The incident occurred in Sweden’s exclusive economic zone, prompting German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius to suspect sabotage.
The Chinese bulk carrier was last spotted leaving Russia’s Ust-Luga port on November 15. Danish authorities facilitated the visit as Swedish police participated as observers only.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/19/europe/sweden-chinese-ship-baltic-cables-intl/index.html