Earlier this month, the Balticconnector gas pipeline between Estonia and Finland was damaged and had to be shut down.  This development follows a series of Baltic infrastructure hardware being destroyed, prompting NATO to increase its patrols in the region. With a Chinese anchor now being found as the cause of the Balticconnector damage, tensions between China and the American-led alliance could increase.

Last year, three out of four Nord Stream gas pipelines were destroyed by an unknown saboteur, which prompted NATO to create “an undersea infrastructure coordination cell” according to a press release from the alliance.  That coordination cell’s workload increased earlier this month when the Estlink communication cable and Balticconnector gas pipeline — both of which ran between Finland and Estonia — were damaged earlier this month, according to the Guardian. (READ MORE from Mason Stauffer: Did Elon Musk Save the Russian Fleet?)

The investigation into what caused the damage got a huge break this week when a Finnish naval crane lifted a six ton anchor out of the ocean in the vicinity of the damaged pipeline.

According to Reuters drag marks were seen on the ocean floor on both sides of the broken pipeline. The broken anchor was found “lying immediately after the damage spot.” On top of that, Finnish Detective Superintendent told Al Jazeera, “There are traces in the [anchor] which indicate that it has been in contact with the gas pipeline.”

Finnish authorities, have said that the primary suspect is the NewNew Polar Bear, a container ship that sails under a Hong Kong flag. To support that claim, authorities have highlighted that the NewNew Polar Bear is missing its front anchor.

Assuming that the Hong Kong ship is the culprit, that does not necessarily mean it was a malicious act.  Indeed, Robin Lardot — spokesman for the Finnish investigators — told Reuters that, “The next questions are about whether it was intentional, negligence, poor seamanship, and that’s where we get into whether there could be a motive for what’s going on … But it’s too early to answer that.”

Finnish investigators have attempted to contact the NewNew Polar Bear, but have so far been unsuccessful. Beijing, on the other hand, has offered comment.

China has said there must be an “objective, fair and professional” investigation, telling Al Jazeera that it is, “willing to provide all necessary information on the case, in accordance with international law.”(READ MORE: The Fight Between Okinawans and the American Airstrip) 

Regardless of where the investigation leads, NATO has detected the pattern of damaged Baltic infrastructure and has stepped up its presence in the region. In a press release earlier this month, the alliance announce that it was working with Estonia, Finland, and Sweden — who is not yet part of the alliance, though it has applied — to keep the region secure. In line with that goal, it has increased its reconnaissance flights, as well as sending drones, radar surveillance planes, maritime patrol aircraft, and four minehunters to the region.