Sweden has requested that a Chinese vessel return to its waters to assist in the investigation of recent damage to undersea fibre-optic cables in the Baltic Sea, as stated by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Tuesday.

On November 17-18, two subsea cables—one connecting Finland and Germany and the other linking Sweden to Lithuania—were damaged within a 24-hour period, prompting suspicions of sabotage from the nations and companies affected.

The Danish military reported that its vessels are monitoring the Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng 3, which was navigating the Baltic Sea during the incident and is currently anchored in international waters, yet within Denmark’s exclusive economic zone.

The damage occurred within Sweden’s exclusive economic zone, prompting Swedish prosecutors to initiate a preliminary investigation.

Kristersson mentioned at a press conference, “We have been in contact with the ship and with China, expressing our desire for the vessel to head towards Swedish waters.”

Countries bordering the Baltic Sea, including Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany, are collaborating on the investigation and maintaining diplomatic communications with China, according to Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed her expectation for cooperation from Beijing regarding the situation.

The Chinese vessel departed from the Russian port of Ust-Luga on November 15 and was present in the vicinity of the cable damage, as indicated by MarineTraffic vessel tracking data, which also noted the presence of other ships in the area.

“We are not making any accusations, but we are seeking clarity on what has transpired,” Kristersson stated.

He added, “This marks the second occurrence of significant cable breaches in a relatively short timeframe.” Sweden remains optimistic that China will respond favorably to the request, Kristersson noted.

On Monday, China’s foreign ministry indicated that Beijing has maintained “smooth communication” with all involved parties.

A subsea gas pipeline and multiple telecommunications cables located on the Baltic Sea floor sustained significant damage last year. Finnish authorities have indicated that they suspect a Chinese vessel may have caused the incident by dragging its anchor. However, investigators have not clarified whether they consider the damage in 2023 to be the result of an accident or a deliberate act.