SWEDEN has called for the China-flagged bulk carrier suspected of damaging undersea cables in the Baltic Sea to move into its waters to help its investigation into the incident.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told reporters his country had been in contact with both the vessel and with China, and wanted the bulker to enter its waters.

Yi Peng 3 (IMO: 9224984) is suspected of damaging undersea cables in the Baltic Sea last week, an act which the German defence minister said was deliberate.

The C-Lion cable, which connects Finland to Germany, was damaged, as was a telecommunication cable connecting Sweden with Lithuania.

In a joint statement following the incident, the Swedish and Lithuanian ministers for defence said: “Situations like these must be assessed with the growing threat posed by Russia in our neighbourhood as a backdrop.”

A Danish naval vessel followed the vessel and began circling it on November 19. Since then, German and Swedish naval and coastguard vessels have been in close proximity to the bulker, which has remained stationary off the Danish coast since November 19.

Swedish national broadcaster SVT said a government source said diplomatic negotiations have been taking place behind the scenes with China, but also with Denmark because the vessel is located in the Danish exclusive economic zone.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters in a scheduled press conference that China had maintained “smooth communication with relevant parties of the incident through diplomatic channels”.

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