WSJ sources: Russian intelligence instructed the Chinese ship to cut the cables

The Wall Street Journal reported on Sundaythat according to official sources involved in the cable breach investigation, the Chinese vessel connected to the November cable cutting in the Baltic Sea received instructions from the Russian intelligence service.

The Chinese vessel Yi Peng 3 is being detained because it is suspected of intentionally breaking two data cables in November. One cable connected Finland and Lithuania, and the other connected Germany and Sweden.

WSJ’s sources believe that Russian intelligence managed to persuade the captain of the Chinese vessel to cut the communication cables by dragging the anchor.

Russia has denied its involvement in the cable violations.

According to official sources, the Russian missile corvette Merkuriy arrived in the Kattegat in the sea area between Denmark and Sweden on November 21 and conducted electronic reconnaissance of Yi Peng 3 and its surroundings. The corvette transmitted encrypted information to its headquarters in Kaliningrad.

China has so far not allowed investigators to board the ship and question its crew, although it has cooperated somewhat with the investigation.

NATO’s problems

The WSJ article also assesses NATO’s difficulties in reacting to events in the Baltic Sea.

According to several sources interviewed by the newspaper, the authorities do not want to publicly blame Russia in order to avoid panic among the citizens.

NATO and the member countries of the alliance have so far had difficulties in responding to Russia’s hybrid attacks.