China has denied Sweden's request to allow prosecutors to investigate a Chinese ship suspected of being involved in the severing of two Baltic Sea cables. Despite China's assurances of cooperation, Swedish authorities were only allowed to observe a Chinese-led investigation.
Sweden ’s foreign minister said Monday that China had denied a request for prosecutors to conduct an investigation on a Chinese ship linked to two severed Baltic Sea cables despite Beijing pledging “cooperation” with regional authorities. Sections of two telecom cables were cut on November 17 and 18 in Swedish territorial waters. Suspicions have been directed at the Yi Peng 3, which according to ship tracking sites had sailed over the cables around the time they were cut.
The Yi Peng 3 had been anchored in the international waters of the Kattegat strait between Sweden and Denmark. “The shipowner company, after a comprehensive evaluation and consultation with relevant parties, decided to resume operations,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said. “China is willing to maintain communication and cooperation with the countries involved to advance the follow-up handling of the incident,” she added. However, Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard also noted Monday that Swedish prosecutors had not been allowed to conduct an investigation. “Swedish police have been on board as observers in connection with the Chinese investigation… At the same time, I note that China has not heeded our request for the prosecutor to conduct an investigation on board,” Stenergard said in a statement to AFP. On Thursday, authorities from Sweden, Germany and Finland were invited aboard as observers for an investigation led by China. A Danish representative also accompanied the group as the country had served a “facilitating role” by hosting meetings between the countries earlier in the week, its Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen had said. Prosecutor Henrik Soderman, told AFP that no measures had been taken on board the ship as part of the Swedish judicial probe, including questioning crew members or technical investigations. The Swedish Accident Investigation Authority (SHK) also took part in the visit, and were able to make observations and speak to crew member
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