An investigation of suspected sabotage that threatens to test the limits of maritime law and escalate tensions between Beijing and European capitals has reportedly now centered around a Chinese commercial vessel that has now been encircled by European warships in international waters for a week.
The crew of the Yi Peng 3 bulk carrier, which is 225 meters long, 32 meters wide, and is laden with Russian fertilizer, is suspected by investigators to have intentionally severed two critical data cables last week as its anchor was dragged along the Baltic seabed for over 100 miles.
Their investigation is currently focused on the possibility that the Russian intelligence agency may have incited the captain of the Chinese-owned vessel, which departed the Russian Baltic port of Ust-Luga on November 15. Law enforcement and intelligence officials have asserted that Russia is responsible for a series of attacks on Europe’s critical infrastructure.
According to individuals with knowledge of the investigation, Ningbo Yipeng Shipping, the Chinese proprietor of the vessel, has permitted its seizure in international waters during the investigation.
The Swedish authorities initiated a sabotage investigation in response to the damage to undersea cables that occurred in Swedish waters on November 17-18. Russia has refuted any wrongdoing in the incident.
On November 17, at approximately 9:00 p.m. local time, the ship dropped anchor but continued to operate in Swedish waters, according to investigators.
According to two individuals who are acquainted with the investigation, the initial cable between Sweden and Lithuania was severed shortly thereafter by the dragging anchor.
The ship’s transponder, which is responsible for tracking its movements on the Automatic Identification System, malfunctioned during that period, resulting in a “dark incident” in marine traffic parlance.
The ship continued to move forward despite the significant reduction in speed caused by the dragging anchor, as evidenced by satellite and other data that investigators reviewed.
According to investigators, the Yi Peng 3 severed the second cable between Germany and Finland at approximately 3 a.m. the following day, after traveling approximately 111 miles.
The ship began to zigzag, raised its anchor, and continued shortly thereafter. The Yi Peng 3 was subsequently pursued and intercepted by Danish Navy ships, which ultimately compelled it to anchor in the Kattegat Strait, which connects the Baltic and North Seas.
People familiar with the investigation reported that an examination of the vessel’s anchor and hull revealed damage that was indicative of the anchor being dragged and the cables being severed.
Numerous Western law enforcement and intelligence officials expressed their belief that the Chinese government was not involved in the incident; however, they suspected that Russian intelligence agencies were responsible for the sabotage..
[READ MORE: Kamala Advisor Finally Admits That Internal Polling Never Showed Them Beating Trump]
