- Cable Sabotage Suspected in Baltic Sea Disruptions.
- Sweden Requests Onboard Access in Baltic Sea Investigation.
- China Invites Multiple Nations to Join Baltic Sea Cable Inquiry.
China has shared information and documents on the probe into two severed undersea cables in the Baltic Sea. However, China and Sweden are at odds over the openness of Beijing’s cooperation in the probe, reports Reuters.
China Invites Countries to Participate in Inquiry
According to a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning at a news briefing, China had invited Germany, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark to join and complete the investigation. This was after the Financial Times reported that China had limited access to major investigative opportunities.
Sweden’s Request for Onboard Access Denied
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard criticized China for not granting Swedish prosecutors the ability to conduct investigations onboard the vessel suspected to be involved in the incident. “Our request that Swedish prosecutors together with, among others, the police should be allowed to take certain investigative measures within the framework of the preliminary investigation on board remains,” Stenergard said.
Sweden has reiterated its request to allow police and prosecutors to take necessary steps as part of the investigation.
Dialogue with China Continues
Sweden still announced that it would continue dialogue with China. According to Stenergard, Beijing informed all countries concerned beforehand and showed a willingness to maintain communication and cooperation to resolve the matter.
Suspicion of Sabotage
The breaches of the cable that occurred on November 17 and 18 have affected the links between Finland and Germany as well as Sweden and Lithuania. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has stated that sabotage is likely to be the cause.
Investigation tracks vessel movements
Investigators have zeroed in on a vessel that left a Russian port hours before the incidents. An analysis of MarineTraffic data showed that at the time and location when the damages to the cables occurred, the coordinates of the vessel matched, making it the prime suspect. The investigation is still ongoing as the countries affected by the disruptions seek answers and accountability.
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Source: Reuters
