Sweden is currently engaged in a diplomatic inquiry with China, seeking cooperation regarding the recent damage to two undersea cables in the Baltic Sea. This incident has drawn significant attention, particularly given the alleged involvement of a Chinese vessel, the Yi Peng Three. On the evening of November 17 and into November 18, these cables—one connecting Sweden to Lithuania and the other linking Finland to Germany—were severed within Swedish territorial waters. The implications of this event are not only technical but also diplomatic, as they come amidst a backdrop of heightened tensions in the Baltic region since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict in early 2022.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities tracking maritime movements observed the Yi Peng Three operating in the vicinity of the severed cables both before and after the incidents. According to data from ship tracking websites, the vessel is believed to have sailed directly over the cables shortly before they were cut. This has raised suspicions among investigators, who speculate that the ship may have deliberately damaged the cables while anchoring improperly—which allegedly involved dragging its anchor across the seabed for an extensive distance of over 160 kilometers. Following the cable damages, the Yi Peng Three has been anchored in international waters off the coast of Denmark, where it has been under close observation by the Danish navy.
In addressing the situation, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson publicly stated that his administration has formally requested cooperation from China in understanding the circumstances surrounding the cable damages. During a press conference, he emphasized the importance of clarifying the events and expressed the expectation that China would comply with the investigation request. Furthermore, Kristersson mentioned to the media that he believes allowing the vessel to return to Swedish waters for inspection could be beneficial to the inquiry, even as he refrained from making any accusations against China at this stage.
In response to Sweden’s inquiry, representatives from Beijing have declared their willingness to collaborate with Sweden and other affected nations to ascertain the truth behind the cables’ damage. China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, indicated that channels of communication remain open, highlighting the necessity for clarity in the face of rising tensions in the region.
This incident has not occurred in isolation. The Baltic Sea area has seen a series of undersea infrastructure disturbances in the last two years, coinciding with Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. For instance, in September 2022, the Nord Stream gas pipelines experienced significant sabotage, followed by another incident involving a telecommunications cable between Estonia and Sweden in October 2023. Such consistent disruptions have fostered suspicion and dialogue regarding potential state-sponsored sabotage in this strategically significant region.
German officials have weighed in on this issue too, with Defence Minister Boris Pistorius suggesting skepticism regarding the likelihood that these cable severings were accidental. While he did not explicitly assign blame, the implications were clear: significant undersea infrastructure events such as these are not being taken lightly and require thorough investigation and accountability.
Furthermore, the backdrop of increasing dialogues about security within NATO further complicates the terrain; allegations of Russian involvement have been met with denials from Moscow, which dismissed such claims as “absurd” and “laughable.” The complexity of international claims and relationships in the context of infrastructure security will require careful diplomacy as international actors seek to address both the realities of maritime security and the narrative that shapes public perception.
As the Swedish investigation into the cables continues, the outcome may influence broader regional security strategies and relationships within the Baltic Sea and beyond. The entanglement of national interests, robust diplomatic engagements, and urgent inquiries into the integrity of critical infrastructure will likely shape the course of Nordic and European relations in the months to come.
