This past weekend, two undersea fiber optic communication cables in the Baltic Sea region of Northern Europe were intentionally damaged and severed. European investigators are looking into a Chinese bulk cargo ship named “Yi Peng 3” that passed through the area before and after the incident.
According to data from the maritime tracking organization Marine Traffic, the Chinese registered vessel “Yi Peng 3” initially departed from Ust-Luga to Port in Russia and was en route to Port Said in Egypt, passing near the two cables on December 17th to 18th. The two severed cables connected Sweden and Lithuania, as well as Finland and Germany.
The “Yi Peng 3” belongs to Ningbo Yipeng Shipping Company, based near Ningbo Port, with only two ships under its ownership, the “Yi Peng 3” being one of them.
The company could not be reached for immediate comment.
As reported by the Financial Times, an intelligence expert mentioned that following the incident, the Danish navy closely monitored the “Yi Peng 3”.
Germany, Sweden, Finland, and Lithuania are conducting investigations into the incident and studying the role of the Chinese vessels in the event.
In a joint statement, the Defense Ministers of the four countries emphasized that “similar incidents should be evaluated against the backdrop of Russia’s increasingly threatening posture towards us, as Europe is facing more and more hybrid warfare activities.”
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius expressed on the 18th that the deliberate severing of the two fiber optic cables within 24 hours could not be ruled out as an act of “hybrid warfare”.
He stated, “No one will believe that these cables were accidentally cut… hence, even though we are not yet sure who is responsible, we must consider this as an act of ‘hybrid warfare’. Without fully understanding the situation, we must also assume this was intentional sabotage.”
Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas added, “After the investigation concludes, the European Union and its member states must fully leverage existing sanctions mechanisms and take action against such acts that disrupt critical infrastructure.”
Finnish officials urged caution, advising countries to avoid jumping to conclusions but not ruling out sabotage.
The Swedish government declined to comment on the Chinese vessel. However, an official mentioned that the police investigation would collaborate with the coast guard and military to probe into the ship’s movements.
Over a year ago, a Chinese container ship flying the Hong Kong flag named “Newnew Polar Bear” damaged a natural gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia. Authorities from both Finland and Estonia have yet to clarify whether they believe this incident was deliberate or accidental.