Sweden demands that the Chinese ship suspected of being involved in the cable rupture at the bottom of the Baltic Sea return to Swedish territorial waters, said Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. He added that his government has not yet received a response from the Chinese side to these calls.
– We are in contact with China and the crew of the ship Yi Peng 3. We want this vessel to enter our territorial waters, Ulf Kristersson said on Tuesday. – This is our strong wish, but so far we have not received an answer (from the Chinese side – ed.) – added the Prime Minister Sweden.
Since last week, the bulk carrier has been in international waters in the Kattegat Strait, which is located between Denmark and Sweden. The crew of the Chinese ship is there suspected of breaking two cables telecommunications in the Baltic Sea. The vessel is guarded by the Danish Navy and the Swedish Coast Guard.
According to Kristersson, the Swedish authorities want to explain what happened at the bottom of the Baltic Sea. – Let's not judge anyone's guilt – he emphasized.
Possible sabotage
On Monday, public broadcasters in Denmark and Sweden, DR and SVT, reported that diplomatic attempts were underway to convince the ship's crew to let representatives of the Scandinavian countries on board. The status of international waters makes it difficult to undertake actions such as searching the ship or questioning seafarers. Last week, Swedish prosecutors launched an investigation into possible sabotage.
Yi Peng 3MIKKEL BERG PEDERSEN/PAP
November 17 and 18 telecommunications connections were damaged connecting Lithuania with Sweden and Finland With Germany. Both places are located in the Swedish economic zone.
Over the weekend, the Swedish Navy, acting on behalf of the Stockholm prosecutor's office and the police, completed documentation of the locations on the seabed. The results of the study have not been made public. Swedish navy spokesman Jimmie Adamsson said the analysis could continue if necessary.
Main photo source: MIKKEL BERG PEDERSEN/PAP