Sweden has formally asked Beijing for help in explaining what happened when two data cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea, where a Chinese-flagged ship was spotted.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the request was made because one among the cables connecting Sweden and Lithuania was back online after its operator Arelion said it had been repaired.
The second cable runs from Finland to Germany and is predicted to be operational again inside the subsequent few days following repairs by Finnish owner Cinia.
Both cables were damaged in Swedish waters in lower than 24 hours between November 17 and 18.
The Chinese-flagged bulk carrier Yi Peng 3, which is currently moored in international waters between Sweden and Denmark, was seen in the world when the cables were damaged.
Meanwhile, Sky News Data and forensics the unit analyzed maritime tracking data which shows that Yi Peng 3 left the Russian port of Ust-Luga on November 15. He passed close to each web cables when each was severed.
The ruling got here after authorities in Sweden, Finland and Germany launched an investigation into the incident.
Western intelligence officials from multiple countries have expressed confidence that the Chinese ship caused damage to each cables.
Finnish police imagine the incident was brought on by a Chinese ship dragging its anchor, while the German defense minister said the damage was likely the results of sabotage.
On Thursday, Kristersson told a news conference that his government would really like the Chinese ship to sail to Swedish waters to allow for an inspection.
“As I said earlier, Sweden has expressed its desire for the ship to sail to Swedish waters and we are in contact with Sweden and China,” he said.
“Today I can also say that in addition to this, Sweden has also sent a formal request to China to cooperate with the Swedish authorities to obtain clarity on what happened.”
Yi Peng 3 near Denmark. Photo: Scanpix/Reuters
He spoke after a gathering on the safety of presidency leaders in the Baltic Sea region.
At the identical press conference, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed “full solidarity and full support” and faith in the credibility of Sweden, which acts in the interest of all countries of the Baltic region.
Asked about Sweden’s cooperation request, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday that communication channels with Sweden and other relevant parties were “unobstructed.”
Authorities in Beijing previously said that they had no information in regards to the vessel, but China was ready to “maintain communication” with relevant parties.
They called for the ship’s rights to normal navigation to be protected.
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Damaged infrastructure of the Baltic Sea
This will not be the primary case of harm to such infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
Last yr, Sweden announced that a cable running from its coast to Estonia had been “intentionally” severed.
In September 2022, seven months after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, three Nord Stream gas pipelines connecting Russia with Germany were destroyed.
No one took responsibility for the blasts, and although some Western officials initially blamed Moscow, American and German media reported that pro-Ukrainian actors can have been responsible for the blasts. The Kremlin denied any involvement.
