Baltic Internet Cables Severed, Chinese Ship Under Investigation

Sweden and other nations suspect sabotage as China denies full access to investigate the Yi Peng 3 vessel.

Two undersea telecom cables were severed on November 17 and 18 in Swedish territorial waters of the Baltic Sea, disrupting critical internet infrastructure.
Investigators have focused on the Chinese cargo ship Yi Peng 3, which was near the cables at the time and allegedly dragged its anchor for over 100 miles.
China has refused Sweden's request to allow prosecutors to conduct a full investigation aboard the ship, though Swedish officials were permitted to observe a Chinese-led inspection.
European officials suspect potential sabotage linked to geopolitical tensions, particularly Russia's invasion of Ukraine, though the Kremlin has dismissed the claims as baseless.
The incident highlights growing concerns over the vulnerability of undersea cables, prompting renewed international efforts to enhance their security and reliability.