A shocking new image has been released appearing to show a Chinese ship which has been accused of sabotage in what has been dubbed the “NATO lake” as tensions with the bloc intensify.
A recently released satellite image seems to show the Yi Peng 3, which has been linked to the recent damage to two undersea cables in the Baltic Sea, as Swedish authorities invite the vessel to approach the waters off Stockholm.
The image, shared on the social media platform Bluesky and attributed to the US Landsat satellites, appears to show the Chinese-flagged ship approximately 45 miles off the coast of Helsingborg, a city in southern Sweden.
Two vessels, one German and one Danish, can be seen near the Chinese bulk carrier, according to an open-source intelligence account.
A spokesperson for the Danish military reiterated previous statements, saying that they are “present in the area near the Chinese vessel Yi Peng 3,” but declined to comment further.
Between November 17 and 18, two undersea cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea within a 24-hour period. One cable connected Finland to Germany, while the other linked Sweden and Lithuania.
All four countries are NATO members and border the Baltic Sea, which is largely surrounded by NATO member states, with Russia‘s Kaliningrad exclave situated between Poland and Lithuania.
The incidents, which occurred in quick succession, have raised concerns about potential sabotage. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated shortly after the incidents that “no one believes that these cables were cut accidentally.”
The enigma of the Nord Stream pipelines’ destruction, which severed Russia‘s gas link to Germany via the Baltic Sea in fall 2022, persists, as does the mystery behind the damage to an undersea cable connecting Sweden to Estonia in October 2023.
A gas pipeline uniting Estonia with Finland also suffered damage in the same month, with fingers later pointed at a Chinese vessel for dragging its anchor.
Reports have surfaced indicating that the Yi Peng 3 was in proximity to both compromised cables around the time they were severed earlier this month.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson disclosed to journalists on Tuesday that Sweden had initiated “contact with the ship” and engaged with Chinese officials, urging the vessel to “move towards Swedish waters.”
Mr Kristersson emphasised that while investigators are not casting blame, they are intent on achieving “clarity on what has happened.”
On the same day, Mao Ning, speaking for China’s Foreign Ministry, confirmed that China is actively “maintains communication with relevant parties, including Denmark, through diplomatic channels.”
