STOCKHOLM (AP) — Swedish police said Thursday they would participate as observers while Chinese authorities investigated aboard a Chinese-flagged ship in the Baltic Sea that was spotted in an area where two undersea data cables were damaged last month.
The Swedish Prime Minister said at the end of November that his country had formally asked China to cooperate in explaining the cable break, which took place in Swedish waters.
Swedish, Finnish and Lithuanian authorities are investigating the rupture of the two cables, and Germany’s defense minister has said he suspects sabotage.
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The Yi Peng 3, a bulk carrier, is moored between Sweden and Denmark.
In a statement, Swedish police said Thursday that “representatives of the Chinese authorities are conducting investigations on board the ship and have invited the Swedish authorities to participate in the role of observer.”
They did not elaborate on the nature of the Chinese investigations, but said they were not part of the police investigation and that Swedish police would not conduct their own “investigative measures” on board the ship. The Swedish Accident Investigation Authority is also participating.
According to the Swedish police, the Danish authorities facilitated the visit.
