A recent incident in which a Chinese ship allegedly cut these cables in the Baltic Sea increased tensions between Sweden, Lithuania, Finland, and Germany.
New Delhi: Imagine being in the middle of an online game and trying to record a win when the internet suddenly goes down. Underwater internet cable cuts can cause a similar crisis. These cables handle 99% of the world’s data transfers, and any disruption can have a significant impact on communications, trade, and security.
A recent incident in which a Chinese ship allegedly cut these cables in the Baltic Sea increased tensions between Sweden, Lithuania, Finland, and Germany.
On November 17, submarine internet cables connecting Sweden and Lithuania, Germany and Finland were damaged. Atlantic Council researcher Elizabeth Breaux said the cable was severed after being dragged by an anchor on the ocean floor. The incident was discovered within 24 hours, and due to its seriousness, all countries were placed on high alert.
Investigation into the role of Yipen-3 in the internet cable cutting incident
According to the investigation, the Chinese cargo ship Yipeng 3 was in the same area at the time of the incident. The ship departed from St. Petersburg, Russia, and called at a port in Denmark’s exclusive economic zone.
Sweden and other countries tracked the ship and found its anchor damaged. Expert Elizabeth Breaux said if a ship’s anchor became entangled in an internet cable and was dragged, the crew would notice because the ship’s speed would be significantly reduced.
2 incidents within 24 hours
Two incidents within 24 hours caused great concern. However, Sweden needs to prove that the sailors acted intentionally. If this cannot be proven, criminal proceedings cannot be brought against the ship’s crew or the company.
Economic loss due to cable cut
Cutting internet cables also affects economic activity. Commerce, online shopping and other economic activities could be disrupted, causing significant economic losses for countries. Additionally, cutting submarine internet cables poses a threat to national security. Many countries’ military and security agencies rely on these cables for communication. Failure of these cables can disrupt communication between security agencies and increase security risks.
Also read:
Big worry for India, ATS in Maharashtra to be on high alert against Bangladeshis… Pakistan plan also exposes ISI network…
Not only Israel and Iran, but also tensions in Asia that will rise in 2025, changes in the situation in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and China, and tensions in India…
