"China is willing to work with relevant countries to find out the truth," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular briefing.
"Currently, China and Sweden are maintaining close communication on this issue," she added.
Sections of two telecom cables were cut on November 17 and 18 in Swedish territorial waters of the Baltic Sea off the coast of Denmark.
Suspicions have been directed at a Chinese ship -- the Yi Peng 3 -- which ship tracking sites said had sailed over the cables around the time they were cut, although there is nothing to indicate that it was involved in the incidents.
The Yi Peng 3 has remained anchored in the Kattegat strait between Sweden and Denmark since November 19.
"Sweden has... sent a formal request to China to cooperate with Swedish authorities in order to create clarity on what has happened. That formal request was sent to China earlier today," Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told a press conference on Thursday.
Denmark's navy said last week it was shadowing the vessel, which is in international waters. Sweden's coast guard joined it over the weekend.
Lithuania expels three Chinese embassy staff
Vilnius (AFP) Nov 29, 2024 -
Lithuania said on Friday it was expelling three Chinese embassy staff as ties between the Baltic country and Beijing fray over Taiwan support and the suspected involvement of a Chinese ship in sea cables damage.
Two Baltic Sea telecommunications cables were severed earlier this month in Swedish territorial waters, including one running from the Swedish island of Gotland to Lithuania.
Suspicions have been directed at a Chinese ship -- the Yi Peng 3 -- which tracking sites said had sailed over the cables around the time they were cut.
On Friday, Lithuania's foreign ministry said in a statement that three Chinese staff members "have been declared undesirable in the country".
The ministry did not give the precise reasons for the expulsion, citing only "activities which violate the Vienna Convention and the legislation of the Republic of Lithuania".
On Wednesday, Lithuania said it was setting up a joint team with Sweden and Finland to investigate the damaged cables, with the support of Eurojust, the European Union's agency for criminal justice cooperation.
China has denied any responsibility in the matter and said Friday it was "willing to work" with a probe.
Ties between Vilnius and Beijing had already been tense after Lithuania in 2021 allowed Taiwan to open a de facto embassy under the island's name.
It marked a departure from the common diplomatic practice of using the name of the capital Taipei to avoid angering China, which claims the island as part of its territory.
Related Links
Cyberwar - Internet Security News - Systems and Policy Issues
| Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters |
| Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters |
