After two data cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea, Sweden has asked a high-profile Chinese ship to enter Swedish waters to investigate. “We have been in contact with the ship and with China and explained that we want the ship to enter Swedish waters,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Tuesday.
Kristersson emphasized that this was not an “accusation.” The Chinese ship “Yi Peng 3” is only asked to enter Swedish waters “so that we can more easily work together to understand what happened.” The “Yi Peng 3” was near the cables when they were damaged. China denied any responsibility. The cargo ship is currently anchored in the Kattegat in the international waters between Denmark and Sweden.
Germany, Denmark and Sweden assume sabotage
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in connection with the two incidents in the Baltic Sea that “sabotage” had to be assumed. The governments of Denmark and Sweden agreed with this position. The Kremlin has dismissed as “ridiculous” and “absurd” suggestions that there could be sabotage in connection with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
Within 48 hours on November 17 and 18, damage was reported to both a telecommunications cable between Germany and Finland and a similar cable between Sweden and Lithuania. The “Yi Peng 3”, built in 2001 and owned by Chinese company Ningbo Yipeng Shipping, was close to the damaged Cinia C-Lion 1 cable that runs between Rostock and Helsinki, according to ship tracking website Marinetraffic.
According to the Finnish technology group Cinia, the defect in the cable was discovered on November 18 in Swedish waters south of Öland. Damage to the Arelion underwater cable between the Swedish island of Gotland and Lithuania had already been noticed the day before, the Swedish telecommunications group Telia announced in Lithuania. Swedish and Finnish police are investigating the case.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
