In a recent revelation, Beijing acknowledged that a Chinese-owned vessel accidentally damaged a vital gas pipeline connecting Estonia and Finland in the Baltic Sea last October. The incident, previously shrouded in mystery, involved the container ship NewNew Polar Bear, owned by China’s NewNew Shipping Line and flagged under Hong Kong.

The Chinese government, following an internal probe, has communicated its findings to European governments, attributing the damage to a severe storm. However, the report is not being recognized as official evidence in the ongoing joint criminal investigation by Estonia and Finland.

Despite Beijing’s explanation, both countries continue to demand more detailed information from China. Estonian authorities confirmed that a request for legal assistance has been submitted to China to further investigate the ship and its crew, emphasizing that any investigative activities must comply with Chinese law.

Notably, the initial Western media coverage swiftly blamed Russia for the damage, a trend that often overlooks other potential causes.