Chinese ships linked to mysterious Baltic Sea cable breaks - what's going on?
Three major underwater infrastructure damages in Baltic Sea over past two years raise questions about security. Chinese vessels presence during two recent incidents makes investigators look closer at these cases
Recent damage to under-sea infrastructure in Baltic Sea makes experts look at ships movement patterns more carefully
Few weeks ago two fiber-optic cables stopped working: one connecting Lithuania with Swedenʼs Gotland Island (a 218-km link) and another between Helsinki and Rostock (a 1200-km connection). Chinese bulk-carrier Yi Peng 3 route matched with both damage spots - this ship left Russian port Ust-Luga right before incidents happened
About a year ago similar case happened when vessel NewNew Polar Bear damaged multiple objects in Baltic Sea bottom. This Hong-Kong flagged ship hit:
- Balticconnector gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia
- Telecom cable linking Estonia with Finland
- Another cable connecting Estonia to Sweden
Investigation of these cases still goes on but Chinese side doesnt show much interest in helping investigators find truth
Most notable case happened couple years back when Nord Stream pipelines got damaged near Danish island Bornholm. Swedish experts found explosive traces on pipeline pieces: this wasnt accident. Different countries pointed fingers at each other - Russia blamed US Britain and Ukraine while Western officials suggested Moscow damaged its own pipes. German police tried to catch Ukrainian diving instructor who mightʼve been involved but he left Poland before arrest warrant came out
