China has provided information and documents to a joint investigation into two damaged undersea cables in the Baltic Sea, Reuters has reported.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a news briefing when asked about a Financial Times report that Sweden had criticised China for refusing full access despite an open investigation, and for not allowing its public prosecutor to board the suspect ship, Yi Peng 3.
The Chinese bulk carrier is moving again after sitting still for more than a month in Danish waters, the Swedish Coastguard said on Saturday. China allowed representatives from Germany, Sweden, Finland and Denmark to board the vessel for the investigation last week.
“In order to cooperate with the investigation, the Yi Peng 3 has been suspended for a long period of time, and in order to safeguard the physical and mental health of the crew, the shipowner company has decided to resume its voyage after a comprehensive assessment and consultation with the parties concerned,” Reuters quoted Mao as saying.
Yi Peng 3 came under investigation following the breach in November of two communications cables – one linking Finland and Germany and the other Sweden and Lithuania – that raised suspicions of sabotage.
A joint group, supervised and coordinated by Eurojust, has been set up by Lithuania, Finland, and Sweden to carry out an investigation into the cable break in the Baltic Sea.
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