COPENHAGEN, Denmark — On Thursday, the Danish military announced that it is keeping a watch on a Chinese bulk carrier reportedly present in the vicinity where two undersea data cables experienced damage in the Baltic Sea in recent days.

Authorities from Finland, Sweden, and Germany have initiated investigations following the recent breakage of the cables—one linking Finland and Germany, and the other connecting Lithuania and Sweden. Notably, these countries are all members of NATO.

Reports indicate that a vessel flying the Chinese flag, identified as the Yi Peng 3, was located in the area at the time the cables ruptured.

VesselFinder.com, a service that tracks marine traffic, identified the Danish patrol boat P525 positioned approximately one nautical mile away from the Chinese ship, situated between Denmark and Sweden on Thursday morning, according to European time.

Henrik Hall Mortensen, a spokesman for the Danish military, confirmed via email, “The Danish Defence can confirm that we are present in the area near the Chinese ship Yi Peng 3.”

In a regular press conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that the Chinese government had no information regarding the vessel yet expressed China’s willingness to “maintain communication” with involved parties. He emphasized the necessity for safeguarding the navigational rights of the Chinese ship.

This incident occurs more than a year after Sweden reported a deliberate rupture of an undersea cable to Estonia through the Black Sea, an event that has yet to be clarified.