Let’s talk about China and their new hobby: turning NATO’s undersea cables into confetti. In case you missed it (which wouldn’t be surprising given the U.S. media’s attention span), back in October 2023, a Chinese ship called Newnew Polar Bear decided to take a joyride in the Baltic Sea. During its leisurely cruise, it “accidentally” dragged a seven-ton anchor across a gas pipeline and telecommunication cables between Estonia and Finland. Oh, and it may have clipped another cable between Estonia and Sweden for good measure.
The ship, conveniently registered in Hong Kong, pretended like nothing happened. Finland’s Minister of European Affairs sarcastically remarked that one would likely notice dragging an anchor for kilometers. When the ship finally docked, its anchor was conveniently “missing.” Subtle.
Fast forward to November 2024, and China’s back at it. This time, the Yi Peng 3 had its turn. It cut a cable between Lithuania and Sweden, then a fiber optic line between Finland and Germany. The ship’s transponder mysteriously “turned off” during these incidents. Because nothing screams innocence like going off the grid right when things break, the Danes are now babysitting this ship in their waters because, apparently, that’s all NATO can muster: a polite military chaperone.
Here’s the kicker: NATO’s done nothing. Nada. Zip. Not in 2023, and not now. This inaction has essentially handed Beijing a permission slip to keep at it. Meanwhile, China and Russia are practically high-fiving over their shared “who can annoy NATO more” game.
It’s time for NATO to grow a backbone. How about banning Chinese ships from ports? Or maybe, I don’t know, sabotaging a pipeline or two headed toward China? If NATO doesn’t act, China’s going to keep treating undersea infrastructure like a kid in a sandbox.
Wake up, NATO. China’s not your frenemy—it’s your enemy.
