BEIJING (Reuters) – China has provided information and documents for a joint investigation into two severed undersea cables in the Baltic Sea, and invited Germany, Sweden, Finland and Denmark to participate in and complete the investigation, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning made the remarks at a press conference when asked about a Financial Times report that Alswedt criticized China for denying full access despite an open investigation, and not allowing a prosecutor to board the suspected ship, the Yi Ping 3.
The Swedish Coast Guard said on Saturday that a Chinese bulk carrier was moving again after remaining stationary for more than a month in Danish waters. China allowed representatives from Germany, Sweden, Finland and Denmark to board the ship for the investigation last week.
“In order to cooperate with the investigation, the Yi Peng 3 ship has been grounded for a long period, and in order to preserve the physical and mental health of the crew, the company owning the ship has decided to resume its voyage after a comprehensive evaluation.” “And consultation with relevant parties,” Mao said.
She added that China has notified all relevant countries in advance and is willing to maintain communication and cooperation.
Yi Ping 3 came under investigation following the hacking of two fiber-optic cables in November – one linking Finland and Germany and the other linking Sweden to Lithuania – which raised suspicions of sabotage and concerns about the security of critical infrastructure.
