Richard Parks Sweden has called on China to assist in clarifying the suspected sabotage of two undersea fibre-optic cables in the Baltic Sea. The cables, which connect Finland to Germany and Sweden to Lithuania, were damaged last week under unclear circumstances.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced on Thursday that Swedish authorities had formally requested China’s cooperation to understand the events leading to the damage. “We are seeking clarity and expect China to collaborate with us as requested,” Kristersson said during a press conference.
The Chinese vessel Yi Peng 3, which was reportedly in the vicinity of the cables at the time of the incidents, has drawn attention. It has remained anchored in the Kattegat Strait between Sweden and Denmark, monitored by multiple vessels, including the Danish navy. China’s foreign ministry has denied any involvement, and Swedish authorities have not commented on claims linking the ship to the damage.
Initial investigations found no seismic signals to suggest explosions, as occurred in previous Baltic pipeline attacks. Instead, experts have proposed that the cables could have been severed by an anchor dragged along the seabed, a theory consistent with other recent incidents in the region, such as the October damage to the Balticconnector gas pipeline, linked to another Chinese vessel.
Swedish prosecutors confirmed that the damage occurred within Sweden’s economic zone. Finnish authorities, who are also investigating, have collected cable samples, treating the damage as aggravated criminal interference.
Kristersson, speaking at a Nordic-Baltic summit, called the Baltic Sea a “high-risk area” for sabotage of critical infrastructure. While careful to avoid premature accusations, he emphasized the seriousness of the investigation. “We are working meticulously to uncover the truth but remain cautious about assigning blame,” he said.
The incidents have heightened concerns about security in the Baltic region, prompting renewed efforts to safeguard essential undersea connections.