Sweden investigates possible involvement of Chinese vessel in damaging cables in the Baltic Sea - media

Sweden is investigating the damage to two data cables in the Baltic Sea, examining the possible involvement of the Chinese ship Yi Peng 3, UNN reports with reference to the Financial Times.

Investigators are looking into the circumstances surrounding the damage to two data cables in the Baltic Sea, including the route of the Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng 3. This is the second such investigation in recent months amid growing concerns in Europe about possible sabotage.

The Chinese-registered Yi Peng 3 was sailing from the Russian port of Ust-Luga to Port Said in Egypt. It was in the vicinity of the Swedish-Lithuanian and Finnish-German cables around the time the cables were damaged on Sunday and Monday, according to MarineTraffic data.

The vessel was closely monitored by the Danish Navy, which is confirmed by open-source intelligence. Swedish authorities have launched an investigation into the incidents to determine the possible involvement of the Yi Peng 3, sources familiar with the investigation said.

"The Swedes are scrutinizing the Chinese vessel," said one person familiar with the investigation.

The Swedish government refrained from commenting on the situation with the Chinese ship. However, one official noted that a police investigation will analyze its routes in cooperation with the coast guard and armed forces.

The incident comes just over a year after the anchor of another Chinese vessel, the container ship Newnew Polar Bear, damaged the Baltic gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia. The authorities of these countries did not specify whether the damage was intentional or accidental.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Monday that the damage to two fiber optic cables within 24 hours was likely a sabotage and an act of hybrid warfare.

He added: "No one believes that these cables were cut by accident. Therefore, we have to state, without knowing exactly who did it, that this is a "hybrid" action. And we also have to assume, without knowing it, that it is sabotage.

The Yi Peng 3 is owned by Ningbo Yipeng Shipping, a company based near the port city of Ningbo in eastern China that owns only one ship. A company spokesperson told the Financial Times that "the government has asked to cooperate with the investigation," but refused to answer further questions, saying he was boarding a plane and ended the conversation.

The Chinese Embassy in Stockholm said it "has no information on the matter," while the embassy in Helsinki did not provide any comment on the request.

Recall 

On November 18 , it was reportedthat the C-Lion1 telecommunications cable between Helsinki and Rostock stopped working.

The cause of the malfunction remains unknown.