Sweden requests China to investigate underwater cable damage
- In November 2023, two underwater cables were damaged in Swedish territorial waters.
- A Chinese vessel, the Yi Peng Three, was tracked in the vicinity, with implications of potential sabotage.
- Sweden has formally requested China to cooperate in the investigation to clarify the circumstances of the incident.
On November 17 and 18, 2023, two undersea cables linking Sweden to Lithuania and Finland to Germany were severed while located in Swedish territorial waters. The cables were reportedly impacted shortly after a Chinese ship named Yi Peng Three, which had departed from a Russian port, sailed over the areas where the damage occurred. Investigators are probing the ship's presence, suspecting that its anchor may have intentionally cut these cables, leading Sweden to initiate a formal request for cooperation from Chinese authorities. This incident happens against a backdrop of heightened tensions in the Baltic Sea, particularly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, raising concerns over the security of critical infrastructure. The Swedish government is keen on determining the circumstances and motivations behind the incidents, emphasizing the importance of a thorough investigation. As global scrutiny surrounding undersea infrastructure continues, this damaging event highlights vulnerabilities and geopolitical frictions within the region, especially given the recent history of similar incidents with the Nord Stream gas pipelines and telecommunications cables, indicating a trend of deliberate attacks that could potentially threaten European security.