What's NewThe Yi Peng 3, the Chinese cargo ship suspected of damaging undersea telecom cables in the Baltic Sea last month, may have attempted to sabotage them 10 days before, reports suggest.Danish broadcaster TV2 analyzed underwater footage and Automatic Identification System (AIS) data and found that the vessel performed a suspicious maneuver near the Danish island of Ls, on November 7.Newsweek has contacted Ls's municipality and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, via email, for comment.The Chinese Embassy in Washington told Newsweek it is cooperating to "find out the truth" in reference to the investigation into the November 17 cable damage.While the Danish Defense Command had no specific comment about the Yi Peng 3's activity on November 7, a spokesperon told Newsweek that "the Danish Defence has increased focus on surveillance in and around Danish waters" and it "routinely monitors ships from other nations when they are in Danish territorial waters."Why It MattersThe Yi Peng 3 is currently anchored in the Kattegat, surrounded by Danish, Swedish, and German naval vessels, while it is under investigation for the damage of undersea cables in the Baltic Sea, which disrupted communications between several European countries.China, whose ship has been accused of deliberately severing the cables by dragging its anchor across the seabed for 100 miles, has denied responsibility for the act, which would escalate geopolitical tensions between Russia, NATO and China.The two cables that were damaged are the Arelion cable, which links Sweden to Lithuania, and the C-Lion1 cable, which links Finland to Germany.File photo of the bulk carrier Yi Peng 3 is anchored in the sea of Kattegat, near the city of Granaa in Jutland, Denmark, taken on November 20. The vessel may have tried to sabotage...File photo of the bulk carrier Yi Peng 3 is anchored in the sea of Kattegat, near the city of Granaa in Jutland, Denmark, taken on November 20. The vessel may have tried to sabotage undersea cables before, a report suggests. AP What To KnowThe new AIS data shows that the Yi Peng 3, which was traveling from Port Said in Egypt to Ust-Luga in Russia, slowed down as it passed over two power cables off Ls and then came to a complete stop.It stayed like this for about five minutes before the propellers were turned on again and the ship continued south through the Kattegat.This was the only time throughout the whole voyage that the ship performed a maneuver like this, the data shows.What People Are SayingSpokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, Liu Pengyu, told Newsweek: "China is willing to cooperate with relevant countries to find out the truth. China and Sweden are maintaining close communication on this."Undersea cables are essential infrastructure to support global data flows. The Chinese government has always welcomed and supported the laying of international submarine cables by other countries and telecommunications companies in waters under China's jurisdiction."Over the years, China has actively promulgated relevant laws and regulations to clarify the rights and obligations of all countries to lay submarine cables in waters under China's jurisdiction in accordance with the law, so as to provide a sound legal guarantee for the transit of international submarine cables in waters under China's jurisdiction."In the future, China will continue to work with the international community to actively promote the construction of global information infrastructure, jointly protect submarine cables, and work together to build a community with a shared future in cyberspace."A former ship captain and current defense analyst at Nordic Defense Analysis told TV2: "I find it suspicious that a merchant shipwhich is in principle in transit from one port to anotherbehaves in that way. A merchant ship would not normally do that."Defense analyst Jens Wenzel Kristoffersen said: "You can see from the AIS traces that the 225-meter-long [738-foot-long] ship has not been in an evasive maneuver in relation to another ship. It is therefore suspicious that the speed is reduced just above or after the cables."What Happens NextSweden, Finland and Lithuania are investigating the incident in which the undersea cables were sabotaged on November 17.Stockholm has sent a formal request to China, asking that Beijing cooperate with its probe. The Chinese responded saying they are ready to "uncover the truth."Newsweek has contacted the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, which handles critical infrastructure and national security, and the Swedish Ministry of Defense, via email, to ask whether this report will influence its investigation.Update 12/19/24, 02:55 a.m. ET: This article was updated to include comment from the Chinese Embassy in Washington and the Danish Navy.This map, built using GPS data captured by Global Fishing Watch from November 7-10, shows the route taken by the Chinese cargo ship Yi Peng 3 in the Baltic Sea, 10 days before the data...This map, built using GPS data captured by Global Fishing Watch from November 7-10, shows the route taken by the Chinese cargo ship Yi Peng 3 in the Baltic Sea, 10 days before the data cables C-Lion 1 and BCS were reported broken. The Yi Peng 3 has been detained off Danish waters since November 20.Newsweek/Global Fishing Watch