Two undersea data cables in the Baltic Sea, connecting Finland to Germany and Lithuania to Sweden, were severed in what European officials are calling deliberate sabotage.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed that the damage was no accident, calling it “sabotage,” while authorities are increasingly pointing to both Russia and China as the likely culprits. The attacks come shortly after President Biden authorized Ukraine to strike Russian territory with U.S.-made long-range missiles, further escalating the already high tensions between NATO and Russia.

https://twitter.com/front_ukrainian/status/1858861678978335227

Adding a new layer to the mystery, a Chinese-flagged bulk carrier, the MV Yi Peng 3, is suspected of intentionally dragging anchor to sever the cables. The vessel, which had departed from a Russian port, is now being shadowed by Danish naval vessels, who have intercepted the ship as it attempted to leave the Baltic Sea.

This incident mirrors the October 2023 sabotage of the Balticconnector pipeline, which was also linked to a Chinese-flagged vessel. While it is not yet confirmed that China is directly involved in these actions, the pattern of suspicious activity has raised serious concerns.

https://twitter.com/MayaSdp/status/1858862729701798152

https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1859187586519978421

This sabotage comes at a time of heightened tensions between Russia, China, and the West, particularly following Biden’s missile authorization. Russia has repeatedly warned that NATO’s increasing support for Ukraine would lead to serious consequences, including potential nuclear escalation. The Kremlin has lowered its nuclear threshold, signaling that any attack on Russian soil, especially one supported by nuclear powers like the U.S., could trigger catastrophic retaliation.

https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/1859163033274138644

The sabotage of these undersea cables is part of a broader hybrid warfare strategy that seeks to disrupt NATO’s ability to provide support to Ukraine. The cables, which are essential for communication and data transfer between European nations, have now been compromised, further complicating the conflict in the region.

https://twitter.com/auonsson/status/1858669322308301295

The involvement of a Chinese vessel in the sabotage of critical European infrastructure raises concerns that China is aligning itself with Russia in this escalating conflict, either as a partner or as a strategic player seeking to undermine NATO.

As investigations into the sabotage continue, the risk of further escalation remains high. The possibility of further attacks on critical infrastructure in the coming weeks could lead to a dangerous confrontation between NATO and Russia, with the potential for more widespread destruction. The growing involvement of China in these actions, combined with Russia’s nuclear threats, underscores the dangerous path the world is now on.

https://twitter.com/naknudsen/status/1858972802159927359

https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1858853514291691729