The Chinese foreign ministry stated on Monday that China has submitted information and documents to a joint investigation into two severed Baltic Sea cables and invited Germany, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark to participate in the inquiry.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a news briefing when asked about a Financial Times report that Sweden had criticised China for refusing full access despite an open investigation, and for not allowing its public prosecutor to board the suspect ship, Yi Peng 3.
The Chinese bulk carrier is moving again after sitting still for more than a month in Danish waters, the Swedish Coastguard said on Saturday. China allowed representatives from Germany, Sweden, Finland and Denmark to board the vessel for the investigation into the severed Baltic Sea cables last week.
“In order to cooperate with the investigation, the Yi Peng 3 has been suspended for a long period of time, and in order to safeguard the physical and mental health of the crew, the shipowner company has decided to resume its voyage after a comprehensive assessment and consultation with the parties concerned,” Mao said.
She added that China had notified all relevant countries in advance and was willing to maintain communication and cooperation.
Yi Peng 3 Incident
Yi Peng 3 came under investigation following the breach in November of two fibre-optic cables – one linking Finland and Germany and the other connecting Sweden to Lithuania – that raised concerns about the security of critical infrastructure.
The incident has also sparked suspicions of sabotage, as the severing of such cables could disrupt vital communication networks and data flow across the region.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the damage, with experts noting the potential geopolitical implications, given the sensitive nature of the cables involved.
The breach has heightened security concerns, particularly in Europe, as nations rely heavily on these undersea cables for communications and internet connectivity.
(With inputs from Reuters)
