China Rejects Allegations of Involvement in Suspected Sabotage of Finland-Estonia Gas Link

In response to Finland's inquiry into possible sabotage of an undersea gas pipeline connecting it to Estonia and larger European Union networks, China has asked for a "objective, fair, and professional" probe.

The damage to the Balticconector gas pipeline, which was found to be leaking on October 9, has prompted discussion between China and Finland. Helsinki has said that their inquiry was concentrated on the conceivable function of a Chinese ship, according to Aljazeera.

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(Photo : by JUSSI NUKARI/Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images)
Detective Superintendent Risto Lohi and Robin Lardot (R), Director of the National Bureau of Investigation NBI of Finland, attend a press conference in Vantaa, Finland on October 11, 2023, about the investigations of the Baticconnector gas pipeline leak in the Gulf of Finland caused by "external activity". It will take at least five months to repair a Finland-Estonia gas pipeline, its operator said October 11, 2023, which will leave Finland totally dependent upon liquefied natural gas imports for the winter.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) of the European nation stated on Friday that it was investigating any potential involvement of the NewNew Polar Bear cargo ship in the incident, which also resulted in the cutting of two telecom cables.

According to the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Beijing has been contacted by Tallinn in an effort to "encourage cooperation regarding the investigation."

China Denies Accusations

The same day, Mao Ning, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, denied any accusations that China was to blame, saying that Beijing hoped the relevant parties could discover the truth as quickly as possible.

She continued by saying that China had consistently pushed for more international collaboration and collaborative protection of the security of cross-border infrastructure.

The Finnish NBI said that a "heavy object" was discovered close to the pipeline damage, and they were looking into whether this was connected to the event.

As a result of the event, NATO has increased patrols in the Baltic Sea and raised concerns about the safety of energy sources in the larger Nordic area.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, concerns over energy security in the EU have increased to unprecedented heights. Due to the small number of energy connections the Baltic area has to the rest of the union, it is particularly susceptible.

Chinese ship and Russian ship Sevmorput were among the two ships Estonian authorities claimed they were investigating into in relation to the incident last week.

State-owned energy corporation Rosatom in Russia said that their ship was unrelated to the pipeline damage.

But authorities in the Baltic states continue to be wary of Moscow and have demanded action.

Edgars Rinkevics, the president of Latvia, said last week that if Russia were found to be at fault, NATO could forbid ships from entering the Baltic Sea.

Threats made against Russia, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, are unacceptable.

Investigation Continues

Häkkänen had earlier claimed that he had spoken with the defense ministers of the US, UK, Germany, Sweden, and other Nordic nations as well as Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg about the incident with the Balticconnector on October 8.

Sauli Niinistö, the president of Finland, has also discussed the issue with Stoltenberg, who has pledged NATO cooperation in identifying the source of the ruptures. Along with Estonian officials, Finnish officials have been closely collaborating on the inquiry.

Häkkänen stated that increased surveillance will be used as oversight to stop shady work being done in advance on communications wires and gas pipes.