Sweden Requests China's Cooperation in Investigating Undersea Cable Sabotage

Sweden has formally requested China's cooperation in investigating the suspected sabotage of two undersea cables in the Baltic Sea. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated that Swedish authorities are seeking "clarity" from China regarding the damage to the two fiber-optic cables, which occurred last week.

The cables, connecting Finland and Germany and Sweden and Lithuania, were severed around the same time a Chinese ship, Yi Peng 3, sailed over them. The ship has remained anchored since November 19th in the Kattegat strait, where it is being monitored by multiple vessels.

While Sweden leads the investigation, they have declined to comment on the claims. China's foreign ministry has also denied any responsibility.

The Wall Street Journal reported that investigators suspect the Chinese vessel's crew deliberately severed the cables by dragging an anchor along the seabed. However, Swedish authorities have not confirmed this claim.

The absence of seismic signals, unlike those detected during the Nord Stream and Balticconnector pipeline explosions, could support the anchor theory.

The incident follows the September 2022 explosions that damaged the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, carrying natural gas from Russia to Germany. In October 2023, the Balticconnector gas pipeline was also extensively damaged.

The Swedish prosecutor confirmed that the cable between Sweden and Lithuania was damaged on November 17th, followed by the Finland-Germany cable several hours later. Both incidents occurred within the Swedish economic zone.

Finnish police are investigating the damage to the Finland-Germany cable as aggravated criminal damage and aggravated interference with communications.

Prime Minister Kristersson acknowledged the Baltic Sea as a "high-risk" zone, emphasizing the need for caution and thorough investigation before accusing any party.