Two data cables in the Baltic Sea have failed or been damaged in a short time. This concerns a cable between Finland and Germany and one between Sweden and Lithuania. Several countries suspect sabotage and have initiated investigations.
The Danish Navy has been following the Chinese vessel Yi Peng 3 for two days, which has passed close to the cables. According to Danish researchers at the Defense Academy, the vessel has been in a Russian harbor. On Wednesday, it is located in the Kattegat, according to the tracking site Vesselfinder.
What we have received is that it has stopped on its own initiative, says Per Engström, commander at the National Operational Department (Noa).
Lin Jian, spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, says that the country has no knowledge of the damage to the data cables being linked to the Chinese vessel, reports the Norwegian news agency NTB, citing the British Financial Times.
China has always fulfilled its obligations and requires that the country's vessels strictly follow maritime law, says Lin Jian, adding that China attaches great importance to protecting underwater infrastructure.
Passed the cables
Swedish police and prosecutors have previously stated that they are interested in a vessel outside Swedish waters that has passed the cables. According to Engström, it concerns the Chinese vessel.
It has passed the cables, but we cannot link it to the locations where the cables were damaged.
The investigation is in an early stage, and they have not yet created a picture of what happened to the cables.
We are trying to get information as soon as possible and, above all, find out if it was due to negligence or intent, says Engström.
A representative of China's Foreign Ministry denies that the damage to the data cables has anything to do with the Chinese vessel, reports the Norwegian news agency NTB, citing the British Financial Times.
More vessels of interest
According to Engström, Swedish authorities cannot board the Chinese vessel because it is in Danish waters.
We do not have jurisdiction to make interventions on Danish territory. We cannot do it on international waters either. Swedish law applies on Swedish waters, he says, adding that they can request legal assistance from Denmark.
But we have not done so yet. We may do so.
Other vessels that have passed the cables are also of interest.
Certain vessels have passed these cables at certain times. Then we cannot point out just that specific vessel (Yi Peng 3), but it is included in the number of vessels that have gone over these sections. That Denmark is monitoring this vessel is not something we have requested.
