Additional Coverage:
- A Chinese ship was near both subsea internet cables that were mysteriously cut, report says (newsbreak.com)
Baltic Sea Internet Cables Severed, China Investigated
Swedish authorities are probing the presence of a Chinese vessel near two severed Baltic Sea internet cables. The incidents, which occurred on Sunday and Monday, are believed to have been acts of sabotage.
Germany’s defense minister, Boris Pistorius, stated that the cables were likely not accidentally damaged. Previously, a joint statement from several European nations implicated Russia. However, China is now also under investigation.
A Chinese cargo ship named Yi Peng 3 was detected near the cables at the time of the cuts. It was subsequently monitored by the Danish Navy.
Experts speculate that China may have collaborated with Russia in the sabotage. In 2023, a Chinese vessel was linked to damage to gas and telecommunications lines in the Gulf of Finland.
Finland and Germany expressed concern about the incidents, emphasizing the vulnerability of European security to hybrid warfare. The cost of repairing the cables is estimated at millions of dollars.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are seeking more information from relevant parties.