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Authorities are investigating the deliberate cutting of two undersea internet cables connecting Finland and Sweden to Central Europe last week, suspecting sabotage by a Chinese cargo vessel. The Yi Peng 3, a bulk carrier traveling from Russia to Egypt loaded with fertilizer, is believed to have dragged its anchor for over 100 miles, severing the BCS East-West Interlink cable near Lithuania and damaging the C-Lion1 cable between Finland and Germany the next day.
Investigators suspect the ship’s anchor was intentionally deployed to sever the cables. “It’s extremely unlikely that the captain wouldn’t notice the anchor dragging for hours,” an investigator stated, highlighting the vessel’s reduced speed and erratic movements. Additionally, the crew allegedly disabled the ship’s transponder, turning off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) and obscuring its movements. After the cables were damaged, the ship reportedly zigzagged, raised its anchor, and resumed its route.
Currently, the Yi Peng 3 is anchored in international waters between Denmark and Sweden, surrounded by NATO vessels conducting an investigation. Swedish authorities are negotiating with the ship’s owners, Ningbo Yipeng Shipping, to have it return to Swedish waters for further examination. However, under international maritime law, NATO cannot compel the ship to enter a port without the owners' consent.
Damage to the ship’s anchor and hull reportedly aligns with dragging and cable impact. Maritime tracking data confirms the vessel’s proximity to the affected cables, raising suspicions further.
Despite the ship’s Chinese registration and crew, many Western officials suspect Russian involvement rather than Chinese. The Kremlin has dismissed the accusations as “absurd and unsubstantiated,” even suggesting hypocrisy, pointing to the 2022 destruction of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, which Moscow blames on Ukraine.
China’s Foreign Ministry defended its commitment to the security of international infrastructure. “China consistently supports working with all countries to maintain the safety of submarine cables in accordance with international law,” it stated.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the Yi Peng 3 primarily operated in Chinese waters from 2019 until early 2024, but later shifted routes to include Russian ports, transporting coal, fertilizer, and other goods. While not definitive proof of Russian involvement, experts note that the timing—shortly after the U.S. permitted Ukraine to strike targets within Russia using long-range munitions—warrants deeper investigation.
Source: YahooNews
