Sweden has formally asked China to assist in investigating suspected sabotage of two undersea fibre-optic cables in the Baltic Sea. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced the request on Thursday, seeking clarification regarding incidents that disrupted cables linking Finland to Germany and Sweden to Lithuania.
The Chinese vessel Yi Peng 3 is under scrutiny after being detected in the area at the time of the incidents. The ship has since remained anchored in the Kattegat Strait, monitored by the Danish navy and other vessels. Sweden is leading the investigation but has not commented on claims that the cables were severed by the ship dragging an anchor along the seabed.
China’s foreign ministry has denied involvement, while Swedish authorities, including the navy and police, have declined to speculate.
Experts have noted that the absence of seismic signals, such as those detected in prior Baltic incidents involving pipelines, aligns with the anchor-dragging theory. Similar allegations have been made in recent months regarding damage to the Balticconnector gas pipeline, linked to a Chinese container vessel.
Kristersson emphasized the Baltic Sea’s growing security risks, noting ongoing investigations but refraining from assigning blame. Both incidents are being treated as potential aggravated criminal acts.
