Baltic Undersea Cables Severed as Chinese Ship Faces Sabotage Allegations

The Chinese-flagged Yi Peng 3 is under scrutiny after two critical data cables in the Baltic Sea were damaged, raising tensions among European nations and sparking legal debates.

Two undersea data cables connecting Sweden to Lithuania and Finland to Germany were severed earlier this month, with the Chinese-registered cargo ship Yi Peng 3 present at both locations during the incidents.
The ship, captained by a Russian national, exhibited unusual movements, including a temporary loss of AIS tracking, but clear evidence of sabotage has yet to be established.
Denmark, Germany, Sweden, and Lithuania are treating the incidents as potential sabotage, while China and Russia deny involvement and call for evidence before accusations are made.
The legal complexities of boarding and inspecting the ship in international waters under UNCLOS have led to a standoff, with the vessel currently anchored under close surveillance by European naval forces.
The incidents have reignited concerns about the vulnerability of undersea cables, critical to global communications, and the need for stronger legal frameworks and infrastructure redundancy to mitigate future risks.