Swedish police boarded the Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng 3, which is at the center of an investigation into breaches of undersea fiber-optic cables in the Baltic Sea, at the invitation of Chinese authorities. The ship is wanted in Sweden for questioning over the breach of two cables in November and has been stationary in waters nearby for a month while diplomats discussed the matter. Investigators had quickly pinpointed the ship as the likely culprit due to its coordinates matching the time and place of the breaches.
The Swedish police participated as observers only on board the ship, while Chinese authorities conducted investigations. The police stated that the actions taken on board the ship on Thursday were not part of the Swedish-led preliminary investigation into sabotage.
The breached cables, one linking Finland and Germany and the other connecting Sweden to Lithuania, were damaged on November 17 and 18. Western intelligence officials have concluded that the Chinese ship was likely responsible for the cuts, but expressed differing opinions on whether the damage was accidental or intentional.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has called for the ship to return to Sweden to aid in the investigation, but the Chinese foreign ministry has yet to respond outside of business hours. The incident is being investigated as a potential act of sabotage, and the Swedish authorities are working with Danish authorities to facilitate the visit to the bulk carrier, which is anchored in the Kattegat strait.