(SQAUK) — On November 20, 2024, the Danish Navy carried out a high-stakes operation in the Baltic Sea, intercepting and boarding the Chinese-registered bulk carrier Yi Peng 3. The vessel was being investigated for allegedly damaging two vital undersea fiber-optic cables that connect Finland to Germany and Sweden to Lithuania. These incidents have raised significant concerns regarding the security of Europe’s critical infrastructure.
The operation occurred in Kattegat Bay, where the Danish naval patrol vessel P525 monitored Yi Peng 3 before boarding it. This action was carried out under Article X of the Submarine Cables Convention, a rarely invoked measure that underscores the seriousness of the situation. The last known enforcement of this convention was by the United States in 1959, highlighting the event’s unprecedented nature.
A Danish Navy vessel boarded the Chinese cargo vessel Yi Ping after it was discovered it had destroyed 2 undersea telecom cables in the Baltic Sea.
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) November 20, 2024
Denmark exercised the right under Art. X of the Submarine Cables Convention. It's been done only once before, by the USA in 1959 pic.twitter.com/cIQgGl2yvp
Suspicion arose concerning Yi Peng 3 due to its proximity to the damaged cables during the incidents. The vessel, which was en route from Russia to Egypt, was tracked near the severed cables. After the damage, the Danish Navy closely monitored the ship’s movements, ultimately deciding to board and inspect the vessel.
BREAKING:
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) November 20, 2024
The Chinese vessel Yi Peng 3 has been chased, intercepted, and boarded by Danish Navy vessel Y311 Søløven after the Chinese vessel destroyed 2 undersea telecom cables linking Finland-Germany and Sweden-Lithuania.
The vessel sailed from Russia & the captain is Russian pic.twitter.com/gRJ3rxobBC
Germany’s Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius, addressed the incidents, stating, “Nobody believes that these cables were severed by accident.” He emphasized the likelihood of sabotage, describing the acts as “hybrid actions” aimed at destabilizing critical infrastructure. The foreign ministries of Finland and Germany issued a joint statement expressing concern over hybrid warfare tactics threatening European security.
The investigation into the cable damage is ongoing, with authorities examining the role of Yi Peng 3 and its crew. The incident has intensified scrutiny over maritime activities in the Baltic Sea, especially concerning the security of undersea infrastructure crucial for communication and energy transmission. Given the potential threat to European security, the urgency of this investigation is paramount.
This event follows a similar incident in October 2023, where the Chinese-registered vessel Newnew Polar Bear was implicated in damaging the Balticconnector gas pipeline and a telecommunications cable between Finland and Estonia. These recurring incidents have heightened concerns about the vulnerability of undersea infrastructure to potential sabotage.
As investigations proceed, European nations are reassessing the security measures protecting their critical infrastructure. The incidents underscore the pressing need for enhanced vigilance and cooperation among countries to safeguard essential communication and energy networks from emerging threats. The importance of this issue cannot be overstated.
