Swedish Police Board Chinese Ship To Monitor Cables For Investigation

Chinese authorities call on Swedish officials to monitor the investigation into the possible cutting of two monitor cables by Chinese ships in the Baltic Sea. Sweden insists it has not made “any accusations” against Beijing.

Swedish police were invited aboard a Chinese ship in the Baltic Sea on Thursday to monitor Beijing’s investigation into the cutting of two undersea cables.

In mid-November, the communications cables (one connecting Finland and Germany, the other connecting Sweden and Lithuania) were damaged off the coast of Denmark (but in Swedish territorial waters).

The Chinese ship Yiping Three was tracked by the cables when cut and has been anchored since November 19.

Sweden: No “accusations” against China

In a statement, Swedish police said, “Representatives of the Chinese authorities are conducting investigations on board the ship and invite Swedish authorities to participate as observers.”

He added that “the Swedish Police will not take investigative measures on board the ship.”

The statement added, “Preliminary investigations into sabotage related to the cutting of two cables in the Baltic Sea are ongoing.” Still, it stressed that Thursday’s observations were not part of those investigations.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Stockholm had asked China to cooperate with the investigation in late November but stressed there were no “accusations” against Beijing.

Other European officials, including German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, said they suspected sabotage linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Kremlin rejected the proposal, calling it “ridiculous.”