A Chinese cargo ship, Yi Peng 3, suspected of damaging two telecommunications cables in the Baltic Sea, is set for inspection by Chinese authorities, with Swedish police observing. The vessel has been anchored near Denmark since November 19 after the incidents on November 17 and 18. Denmark is facilitating cooperation between Sweden, China, Germany, and Finland, amidst concerns of potential sabotage linked to Russia. Investigations continue as tensions rise in the region following recent maritime incidents.
Inspection of the Yi Peng 3 Cargo Ship
The Chinese cargo vessel, suspected of involvement in the cutting of two cables in the Baltic Sea, is poised to set sail after undergoing an ‘inspection’ on board this Thursday, as announced by Danish officials. The ship has been anchored near Denmark for nearly a month.
Swedish police previously indicated that their officers would board the Yi Peng 3 as ‘observers’ during the inspection led by representatives from Chinese authorities. They emphasized that this would not constitute an investigation and does not fall under the purview of the Swedish judicial process.
Background of the Cable Cuts
On November 17 and 18, two telecommunications cables were severed in Swedish territorial waters. Ship tracking data revealed that the bulk carrier Yi Peng 3 was located above the cables when the incidents occurred. Since November 19, the vessel has been positioned in the Kattegat strait, situated between Sweden and Denmark.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen informed reporters that the ship is expected to depart once the inspection, involving representatives from China, Sweden, Germany, and Finland, is concluded. He noted Denmark’s role as a facilitator among the countries involved.
On November 28, Sweden officially requested China’s cooperation to clarify the cargo ship’s involvement. Meetings among representatives from the four nations took place in Copenhagen earlier this week, leading to the Swedish police’s invitation to observe the inspection.
According to a statement from the Swedish police, ‘Chinese authorities are leading investigations on board, and Swedish authorities have been invited as observers.’ It was further clarified that no investigative actions would be undertaken by Swedish police during this visit, with Danish authorities assisting the process.
John Ahlberk, president of the Swedish Accident Investigation Authority, highlighted that they lack investigative authority over the cargo ship in international waters. He expressed interest in hearing the crew’s account regarding claims that the cable break might have been caused by the ship’s anchors, although he was uncertain about the possibility of questioning them or conducting an independent investigation, given that the Chinese authorities are in charge.
The Danish navy has been monitoring the vessel since November 20, and Swedish coast guards have maintained a presence in the area for three weeks. Ongoing investigations by the Swedish police, along with Finnish and Lithuanian counterparts, form part of a broader inquiry led by the Swedish prosecutor.
The severed ‘Arelion’ cable connects Gotland, Sweden, to Lithuania, while the second cable, ‘C-Lion1’, links Finland and Germany. Following the incidents, several European leaders raised concerns about potential sabotage linked to Russia, which the Kremlin dismissed as ‘ridiculous’ and ‘absurd.’ China has committed to cooperating with the Swedish investigation.
Amid rising tensions in the Baltic Sea following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, incidents continue to escalate, including the recent shutdown of a submarine pipeline between Finland and Estonia, damaged by the anchor of a Chinese cargo ship in October 2023. Additionally, a series of underwater explosions ruptured the Nord Stream pipelines in September 2022, with the cause still under investigation.