Connectivity has been restored following the severing of two data cables in the Baltic Sea, an incident that occurred in an area where a China-flagged vessel was reported. Sweden has requested cooperation from Beijing in the ongoing investigation.
On November 17-18, the cables were damaged, prompting a response from China, which expressed readiness to assist in clarifying the situation. China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, stated that Beijing aims to collaborate with relevant countries to uncover the truth. Currently, communication between China and Sweden remains active.
The bulk carrier Yi Peng 3, flagged by China, was spotted in the vicinity during the time of the rupture and is currently anchored in the Kattegat Strait, located in international waters between Sweden and Denmark. As of Friday morning, both cables have been fully restored, according to their respective operators.
Ari-Jussi Knaapila, CEO of Finnish network operator Cinia, confirmed that the cable linking Finland and Germany had been repaired more quickly than anticipated. Additionally, Arelion, the Swedish telecommunications operator, announced the successful repair of its cable connecting Sweden to Lithuania.
Sweden's Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, indicated that Stockholm would prefer the Yi Peng 3 to relocate to Swedish waters for inspection. He also mentioned that Sweden has formally requested China’s cooperation with Swedish authorities to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident.
A joint investigative team comprising Finnish, Swedish, and Lithuanian authorities has been established, with Germany also initiating its own inquiries. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has suggested that the damage to the cables may have resulted from sabotage. However, Russia has dismissed accusations of its involvement in the incident as “absurd” and “laughable.”