Officials Board Chinese Ship in Cable Investigation

The Yi Peng 3, a Chinese bulk carrier, is under investigation for damaging two undersea cables in the Baltic Sea, linking Finland to Germany and Sweden to Lithuania, on November 17-18. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius suggested the damage was likely sabotage, with investigations focusing on the ship, which left a Russian port shortly before the incidents. Following diplomatic discussions, representatives from Germany, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark boarded the vessel for inspection, while Chinese authorities conducted their own investigations. Although the cables have been repaired, many questions remain regarding the circumstances of the breaches, with Western intelligence expressing confidence that the Yi Peng 3 was involved. Some experts speculate on possible Russian connections to the incident, despite Finnish officials not corroborating these claims. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen expressed hopes that the ship would soon be allowed to leave after the inspection is completed.