Summary
Sweden accused China of denying its request to allow prosecutors to investigate the Chinese ship Yi Peng 3, suspected of cutting two Baltic Sea telecom cables in November.
The ship was tracked near the cables when they were severed, but China has only permitted limited onboard investigations, claiming the ship left to ensure crew wellbeing.
The incident raises suspicions of sabotage amid heightened Baltic tensions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Similar cases, including damaged pipelines and cables, have increased regional scrutiny of foreign vessels. China claims cooperation but limits full access.
China: does act of war
Also China: Who, Meeee???
Confiscate their ship and do full investigation
Two snippets I‘d like to add to the summary:
The Swedish foreign minister, Maria Malmer Stenergard, told Agence France-Presse: “Swedish police have been on board [Yi Peng 3] as observers in connection with the Chinese investigation … At the same time, I note that [China] has not heeded our request for the prosecutor to conduct an investigation onboard.”
and
On Thursday, authorities from Sweden, Germany and Finland were invited onboard the vessel for an investigation led by China.
It’s a silly game to play. China needs trade with the West as much as the West does. Why risk that for Russia’s sake, which China benefits from if it’s economically weakened?
Higher bargaining power.
A serious trade war between China and America results in right leaning politics in America but in China it risks revolution
I’m not sure China is afraid of a revolution. See: Tiananmen square, and in 2024 they’ve got a surveillance system nobody can escape.
All that just illustrates they are indeed afraid of a revolution. Why do that otherwise?