sweden seeks China’s aid to probe Baltic cable sabotage

"We have made an official request to China for cooperation in investigating the matter of the severed telecommunications cables in the Baltic Sea," Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced on Thursday during a press conference with Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Harpsund, Sweden.

Kristersson emphasised that although this does not formally change the situation, it demonstrates Sweden's firm intention to inspect the Chinese ship Yi Peng 3 to accurately ascertain the circumstances of the incident.

"We want to find out what really happened," Kristersson noted.

The Chinese container ship Yi Peng 3 has been in international waters in the Kattegat Strait since last week, monitored by the Danish Navy and the Swedish Coastguard. Swedish authorities have expressed the desire for the vessel to enter their territorial waters, which would allow for a more detailed inspection of the ship.

The damage to two underwater telecommunications cables occurred on 17th and 18th November. One of them connected Lithuania with Sweden, and the other Finland with Germany. The incidents took place in the Swedish economic zone—southeast of the island of Gotland and south of the island of Öland.

According to the "Wall Street Journal," investigators suspect that Yi Peng 3 deliberately cut the cables by dragging its anchor over a distance of more than 160 kilometres. The investigation is focused on determining whether Russian special services are behind the potential sabotage. The ship had previously departed from one of the Russian oil ports.

The Swedish Prime Minister stressed the importance of cooperating with China to fully clarify the matter.

Incident in the Baltic. Siewiera commented, saying, "we are hanging" at sea.

Another cable "physically damaged." Connection between Lithuania and Sweden severed.

NATO active in the Baltic. Everything is visible on the map.