China allows Sweden, Finland, Germany, and Denmark to board a vessel involved in the cable breach incident

China has permitted officials from Germany, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark to board a Chinese bulk carrier involved in an investigation regarding breaches of Baltic Sea cables, as stated by the Danish foreign minister on Thursday.

The vessel, Yi Peng 3, is sought in Sweden for inquiries related to the damage of two undersea fiber-optic cables in November and has remained stationary in nearby waters for a month while discussions took place between diplomats in Stockholm and Beijing.

Investigators quickly focused on the ship, which departed from the Russian port of Ust-Luga on November 15. An analysis of MarineTraffic data by Reuters indicated that the vessel’s location matched the timing and location of the breaches. The damaged Baltic Sea cables include one connecting Finland and Germany and another linking Sweden to Lithuania, with the incidents occurring on November 17-18. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius suggested that sabotage was likely the cause.

On Thursday, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen announced that Denmark had facilitated a meeting earlier in the week between representatives from Germany, Sweden, Finland, and China, effectively resolving a month-long impasse. “We expect that once this group has completed their inspection, the ship will be able to proceed to its destination,” Lokke Rasmussen remarked.

LSEG data indicated that Yi Peng 3 remained stationary in the Kattegat strait, situated between Denmark and Sweden. In a statement, Swedish police clarified that their role on the vessel was solely as observers while Chinese authorities carried out their investigations.

The police also noted that the preliminary investigation into potential sabotage related to two cable breaks in the Baltic Sea is ongoing. They emphasized that the activities conducted aboard the ship on Thursday were not part of the Swedish-led preliminary inquiry.

The incidents occurred within Sweden’s exclusive economic zone, and Swedish prosecutors are spearheading the investigation based on suspicions of sabotage. Intelligence officials from various Western nations have expressed confidence that the Chinese vessel was responsible for the damage to both cables, although opinions differ on whether these incidents were accidental or intentional. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has called for the ship to return to Sweden to assist with the investigation.