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Sweden Finds No Hard Proof Against Chinese Ship Intentionally Damaging Baltic Sea Cables

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Apr 16, 2025

Marine Insight

A Swedish investigation has found no clear evidence to suggest that a Chinese-flagged ship intentionally damaged two subsea cables in the Baltic Sea last year.

The Swedish Accident Investigation Authority (SHK) reported on April 15th, 2025, that the incident, which took place in November 2024, could not be definitively linked to intentional actions by the vessel.

The Yi Peng 3, a bulk carrier owned by Ningbo Yipeng Shipping Co, was being investigated after it dragged its anchor across a large stretch of the Baltic Sea.

Over the course of one and a half days, the ship’s anchor dragged for 180 nautical miles, damaging two vital subsea telecommunications cables.

These cables were crucial for linking Finland to Germany and connecting Sweden to Lithuania.

The SHK’s report states that, despite efforts to understand the incident, there is no certainty regarding whether the damage to the cables was deliberate.

“It cannot be determined with certainty whether a Chinese ship intentionally damaged the data cables in the Baltic Sea,” the authority said in a statement.

The SHK thought of two possible scenarios: one suggesting the ship deliberately dropped its anchor to damage the cables, while the other posits that the anchor became loose due to poor securing.

However, the SHK pointed out that the deliberate damage theory seems unlikely because of the risks involved. Releasing the anchor at high speed could have endangered the ship and crew, which would be highly dangerous.

On the other hand, the theory that the anchor was released due to faulty securing is also weakened by the fact that there was no major damage to the ship, and the anchor was on the seabed for a long period without causing much harm.

The Chinese authorities maintained control over the vessel, which restricted Swedish investigators from conducting interviews with the crew or accessing important electronic data aboard the ship.

As a result, Swedish authorities were unable to gather all the necessary information to draw a definitive conclusion. Swedish prosecutor Henrik Soderman confirmed that a separate investigation into the case is still ongoing.

He stated that the Swedish prosecution is continuing to examine the case independently of the SHK’s findings. The damage to the cables occurred on November 17th and 18th, 2024.

The Arelion telecommunications cable running from Gotland, Sweden, to Lithuania was severed on November 17th, and the C-Lion 1 cable, connecting Finland to Germany, was damaged the next day near Sweden’s Oland Island.

Several nations, including Sweden, Finland, and Germany, launched probes into the incident, with Swedish police initially suspecting sabotage.

This suspicion raised tensions in the Baltic Sea region, especially after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Though the findings do not indicate deliberate damage, they do not prevent Swedish authorities from continuing their investigation. The Swedish Prosecution Authority can still pursue a preliminary investigation into criminal activity related to the incident.

China has provided some documents and information about the Yi Peng 3 to assist with the investigation in December 2024.

However, the country has denied any involvement in the severing of the cables, as has its ally, Russia, which has faced similar accusations related to infrastructure damage in the region.

NATO has increased its presence in the region by deploying frigates, aircraft and naval drones to safeguard critical infrastructure.

Reference: Reuters

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