Swedish authorities have launched an investigation into a Chinese-registered vessel’s movements coinciding with the severance of two critical undersea data cables in the Baltic Sea, marking the latest in a series of infrastructure security concerns in European waters.
The vessel in question, Yi Peng 3, was tracked travelling from Russia’s Ust-Luga port to Port Said in Egypt when it passed near both the Swedish-Lithuanian and Finnish-German cables at the precise times they were damaged on Sunday and Monday. Maritime tracking data from MarineTraffic confirmed the vessel’s presence, which prompted Danish naval forces to closely monitor its subsequent movements.
Sources close to the investigation reveal Swedish authorities are particularly focused on the Yi Peng 3’s role in these incidents. The timing and location of the vessel’s passage have raised significant concerns, especially given that German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has already suggested the cable damage was likely an act of sabotage rather than an accident.
The vessel’s owner, Ningbo Yipeng Shipping, based near the eastern Chinese port city of Ningbo, has acknowledged that Chinese government officials have requested their cooperation with the investigation. This incident bears striking similarities to a 2023 case where another Chinese vessel’s anchor damaged a Baltic gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia.
The governments of Germany, Sweden, Finland, and Lithuania have jointly expressed deep concern over these events, particularly considering the growing threat posed by Russia in the region. Lithuanian Defence Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas has called for the EU to implement its newest sanctions regime for critical infrastructure sabotage once the investigation concludes.
These developments emerge against a backdrop of heightened tensions, with the US previously accusing China of supporting Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine. The incidents have sparked renewed dialogue about maritime security and the protection of crucial undersea infrastructure in European waters.
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