Investigators say a Chinese ship’s crew deliberately dragged its anchor to cut undersea data cables

Engadget via MSN ^ | 11 27 2024 | Will Shanklin

[yesthatjallen]

European investigators believe a Chinese-owned commercial ship deliberately dragged its anchor to sabotage the two undersea telecommunications cables cut in the Baltic Sea earlier this month. However, Western law enforcement and intelligence officials told The Wall Street Journal that they don’t believe the Chinese government was involved. Instead, the probe is focused on whether Russian intelligence persuaded the vessel’s captain to carry out the operation.

For the past week, NATO warships from Denmark, Germany and Sweden have surrounded the 225-meter-long Yi Peng 3. The ship’s Chinese owner, Ningbo Yipeng Shipping, is reportedly cooperating with investigators. The shipper allowed the commercial vessel to be stopped in international waters.

The WSJ says Swedish and German authorities are negotiating with the owner to access the ship and its crew. International maritime laws prevent NATO from forcing the vessel to sail into one of their ports.

SNIP

[kiryandil]

The Russians thought it was the remaining functional Nordstrom's pipeline, and they were trying to finish the job.   

[Terry L Smith]

“plausible deniability”
“good morning, mr. phelps”...tape self destructs.

[eyedigress]

they don’t believe the Chinese government was involved.

That's rich.

[llevrok]

I’m sure just a harmless fraternity prank gone bad.

[alternatives?]

If they are constipated, it’s the Russians fault.

[McGruff]

Where’s the evidence?

[CharlesOConnell]

[twister881]

The commanding officer of the Chinese vessel wouldn’t break wind without CCP approval. Any of Cocaine Mitch’s in-laws involved?

[rottweiller_inc]

Interesting that they thought of this. My guess is during an actual war you are going to find a lot of our high technology being defeated by very low tech outside the box thinking.

[linMcHlp]

Destroying the west, is what the communists do. Russians destroying the undersea pipelines. Chinese destroying undersea cables. East Germans destroying the the undersea nets and traps.

[jmcenanly]

Would it be possible to reroute much of the data through the Starlink satellites? The network is less likely to be damaged by taking out a single satellite, as the satellites would simply reroute messages to any undamaged satellites.

[Dr. Sivana]

Would it be possible to reroute much of the data through the Starlink satellites? The network is less likely to be damaged by taking out a single satellite, as the satellites would simply reroute messages to any undamaged satellites.

In an emergency, yes. I doubt that Starlink has anywhere near the capacity needed. Also, even low-flying satellites are inherently slower than a high speed data line hugging the earth. Satellites are very subject to interference, with greater difficulty determining the cause when the interference is man-made. Finally, signals can be intercepted, and though encrypted, the possibility of unencrypting cannot be ruled out.

[dinodino]

Starlink is a low-throughput personal internet pipe. The fibers cut in this operation probably carried 10MM times the data (just guessing off the top of my head, could be more).

[Georgia Girl 2]

A Chinese owned commercial vessel but it was the Russians who made them do it. 😆

[kiryandil]

The Putin is their Daddy. Happy Thanksgiving!!

[Georgia Girl 2]

😎

[Georgia Girl 2]

The Russians made them do it. 😆

[Zman]

Confucius say, “dragging to disable fiber cable very bad for trade deficit.”