A Chinese merchant ship has emerged as the main suspect in the possible sabotage of two undersea telecom cables in the Baltic Sea, an incident that has reignited fears of hybrid warfare, according to data analyzed by Le Monde.

The 225-meter-long bulk carrier Yi-Peng 3 has been immobilized in the middle of the Cattegat Strait, between the Danish and Swedish coasts, since late on Tuesday, November 19, when it headed out of the Baltic Sea. Under the watchful eye of a Danish navy frigate, the kingdom's armed forces finally acknowledged their presence alongside the Chinese vessel on Wednesday. Contrary to numerous online reports, Denmark had not boarded the vessel by mid-morning on Thursday.

Denmark's Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen remained cautious late on Wednesday: "We don't yet know the extent of the incident, or whether it was sabotage." Sweden echoed the same cautious stance, although the investigations seem to be in Stockholm's hands, as the two points where the cables broke are in its exclusive economic zone. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian asserted that China had "always fully complied with its obligations as a flag state," adding that "Chinese ships must scrupulously respect the laws and regulations in force."

A police investigation entrusted to the International and Organized Crime Unit, with the assistance of the Swedish Coast Guard and Navy, was quickly opened. "The police and the public prosecutor's office are interested in a vessel that was seen at the scene in question. The vessel is not currently in Swedish waters," according to a police statement. According to Swedish public television sources, the investigation is focusing particularly on the Yi-Peng 3. To understand this, we need to go back a few days.

A ship on a very suspicious course

This bulk carrier left Russia with its AIS beacon – the computer system that enables it to be seen by other ships – showing it docked at the port of Ust-Luga, some 100 km from Saint Petersburg, on November 10. A satellite photo taken at 1:37 pm (French time) that day confirmed its presence at the vast oil and liquefied natural gas port. The dimensions of the vessel and the times at which its beacon was transmitted enabled Le Monde to identify it. This was a week before the Baltic Sea cables broke.

According to the port register and its AIS data, the Yi-Peng 3 left the Ust-Louga area on Friday, November 15, shortly before 1 pm (French time). "There was absolutely nothing unusual about the ship," the Russian pilot who maneuvered it out of port told The Guardian. He described the vessel as "standard" and noted that the crew was made up of Chinese nationals. The bulk carrier then headed offshore, west and then south.

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