A Chinese bulk carrier, Yi Peng 3, has been encircled by NATO warships for over a week amid suspicions it deliberately severed two critical undersea data cables in the Baltic Sea.
The incident, now under investigation, has drawn attention to maritime security and raised tensions between Beijing and European capitals, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Newsweek has reached out to China's Foreign Ministry for further comment via email.
Anchor Dragging Sparks Suspicions
European investigators believe the Yi Peng 3, a 225-meter vessel loaded with Russian fertilizer, dragged its anchor for over 100 miles, cutting cables between Sweden, Lithuania, Germany and Finland on November 17-18.
"It's extremely unlikely that the captain would not have noticed that his ship dropped and dragged its anchor," a senior investigator said.
The ship, owned by China's Ningbo Yipeng Shipping, departed Russia's Ust-Luga port on November 15.
Investigators are exploring whether Russian intelligence influenced the captain, potentially making this incident part of a broader pattern of attacks on Europe's critical infrastructure allegedly orchestrated by Moscow.
Sabotage Claims and Legal Maneuvering
During its cable-cutting trajectory, the Yi Peng 3 experienced a "dark incident," shutting off its transponder and significantly reducing speed.
By the time it raised its anchor in the Kattegat strait, Danish Navy ships had intercepted it. Damage to the vessel's anchor and hull was consistent with severing cables, according to people familiar with the probe.
Both Sweden and Germany launched sabotage investigations following the incident. NATO ships from Denmark, Germany and Sweden now guard the vessel while authorities negotiate access to question the crew.
International maritime law prevents the forced relocation of the ship to a NATO port.
The Kremlin dismissed the accusations as "absurd" and likened them to unsubstantiated claims about the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage.
Meanwhile, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reaffirmed Beijing's support for protecting submarine cables under international law.
A Pattern of Shadow Warfare?
The Yi Peng 3 joins a growing list of incidents fueling Western suspicions of Russia's covert operations. Last year, the Newnew Polar Bear, another Chinese vessel, allegedly severed a Finnish gas pipeline and cable while carrying Russian sailors.
The Yi Peng 3, which operated exclusively in Chinese waters until March 2024, has since carried Russian cargo, frequently visiting Russian ports.
While this pattern is not definitive proof of Russian involvement, it is "a key area of investigation," said Benjamin L. Schmitt of the University of Pennsylvania.
As investigators assess the damage with underwater drones and other methods, the case underscores the complex interplay between maritime law, international trade and national security in the Baltic Sea.
English (US) ·