Last week, the C-Lion1 submarine telecommunications cables [reliant Helsinki à Rostock] et BCS [reliant l’ile suédoise de Gotland à la Lituanie] were broken by an “external force”, in the exclusive economic zone [ZEE] from Sweden. Very quickly, the hypothesis of a malicious action was put forward.
“No one believes these cables were cut by accident […]. We must start from the principle […] that it is sabotage. I do not believe in the versions of the anchors which would have accidentally caused damage to these cables,” said Boris Pistorius, the German Minister of Defense, on November 19.
For the moment, the theory of sabotage has not been confirmed. However, analysis of maritime traffic data in the Baltic region has shed light on the suspicious behavior of the Chinese cargo ship Yi Peng 3 [dont le commandant serait russe, ndlr] in areas where both cables were cut.
Having set sail from the Russian port of Ust-Luga [oblast de Leningrad] en route to Port Said, Egypt, the Yi Peng 3 reduced its speed to 3.4 knots as it crossed the damaged cables. In addition, RFI reported, he had already stood out for his suspicious behavior in the Mediterranean. Thus, between October 24 and 31, it carried out “unusual maneuvers for a merchant ship”, performing “zigzags” above important submarine cables, near the Strait of Gibraltar. However, no damage has since been noted.
In any case, on the evening of November 19, followed by the patrol boat P525 of the Royal Danish Navy, the Yi Peng 3 came to rest in Kattegat [ou Kattegat]on the edge of Danish territorial waters [soit à un peu plus de 12 nautiques de la côte]. And he hasn't moved since.
Obviously, the Chinese cargo ship is under close surveillance, the Danish patrol boat having broken down less than a nautical mile from its position. It was then by two other ships [un allemand et un suédois]. In addition, suspicions of its involvement in the sabotage of the two cables were strengthened after it appeared that one of its anchors was damaged.
How long will Yi Peng 3 stay in Kattegat? The problem is that, at the moment, it is not possible to board it given that it is not in the territorial waters of one of the coastal countries and that it has not been surprised in committing a serious offense.
This would require authorization from its flag state, that is to say China. And, as shown by the affair of the Newnew Polar Bear, a Chinese cargo ship which damaged the Balticconnector gas pipeline with its anchor in October 2023, discussions with Beijing to obtain visiting rights on board the Yi Peng 3 promise to be complicated .
On November 25, given that the cables were cut in its EEZ, Sweden announced, through its Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, that it had “contacts” with China so that the Yi Peng 3 travels in its territorial waters for the purposes of the investigation.
“We have been in contact with the ship as well as with China and we have made it known that we want the boat to head towards Swedish territorial waters,” Mr. Kristersson said. “The objective is not to make an accusation. We want the ship to reach our territorial waters so that we can understand what happened,” he added.
“China has had smooth communication with all parties involved in the incident through diplomatic channels. Beyond that, I have no further information to share regarding the Chinese ship,” said Mao Ning, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman.
