A recent incident in the Baltic Sea has led to sharp criticism of China, as Swedish officials express outrage over China’s refusal to allow a Swedish prosecutor aboard a Chinese vessel suspected of severing two undersea cables. The cables, which connected Sweden, Lithuania, Finland, and Germany, were damaged in late November. This event has raised concerns among European countries about the growing tension surrounding maritime security in the Baltic Sea.
Uncooperative Actions: China’s Block on Baltic Cables Investigation
The Chinese ship, Yi Peng 3, moored in international waters between Denmark and Sweden, became the focus of an investigation. On Thursday, a Chinese investigative team boarded the vessel, but Swedish authorities did not allow their key investigator, Henrik Söderman, to inspect the ship. This refusal has led to accusations that China is obstructing the investigation into the damage caused to two vital undersea cables.
Swedish authorities reported that the severed cables disrupted important data connections between several European countries at the end of November. This type of damage raised concerns about the security and stability of undersea communication networks that are crucial for global communication, including data transfer and internet connectivity.
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Tension in the Baltic: Sweden’s Criticism of China’s Lack of Cooperation
The Swedish government has reacted strongly to China’s refusal to cooperate fully. Sweden’s foreign minister, Maria Malmer Stenergard, stated that it was “remarkable” that the ship left without the Swedish prosecutor being able to inspect it. Sweden had been pressing China to move the ship from international waters into Swedish territory for a more thorough investigation. This would have allowed Swedish authorities to question the crew as part of their criminal probe into the severing of the cables. However, the refusal to grant access to the Swedish prosecutor has strained relations further.
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In addition to Sweden, several other countries have voiced concern about the situation. Finland, Germany, and Denmark initially allowed their representatives to board the ship as observers, but Sweden did not permit its representative to join the inspection. This lack of full cooperation has heightened tensions among the Nordic and Baltic countries, especially given the growing importance of the region’s undersea infrastructure.
Other Possible Involvements and Cables Incidents in the Baltic Sea
The controversy surrounding the Yi Peng 3 comes amid growing suspicions about the motivations behind the severing of the cables. Some officials involved in the investigation have suggested that the damage might have been the result of bad seamanship. They speculated that the Yi Peng 3’s anchor could have dragged along the seabed, accidentally severing the cables.
However, some governments also have concerns that the incident could have been intentional and speculate that Russia may have been involved. They suggested that Russia could have paid the crew of the Yi Peng 3 to carry out the damage. These suspicions are heightened by the fact that this is not the first time a Chinese vessel has been linked to damage in the Baltic Sea. In October 2023, another Chinese ship, the Newnew Polar Bear, was responsible for dragging its anchor across the seabed and damaging a gas pipeline. Officials allowed the ship to leave the area without fully investigating it, a situation they were eager to avoid repeating with the Yi Peng 3.
This series of incidents has raised doubts. Some question whether the damages were accidents. Others suspect they may be part of a larger, more deliberate pattern. The situation has also sparked concerns about safety. The Baltic Sea’s undersea infrastructure is critical to the region’s economies and security.