A brief recap of MoFA's comments on the Balticonnector and the NewNew Polar Bear
Michael Horlick, MPM, M Ed., PMP
Educator, Lexicographer, and Incurable Idealist
A recent article on Estonian ERR news noted that China has yet to fully respond to a question in 2023 about the incident involving a vessel called "NewNew Polar Bear" and damage to the Balticonnector pipeline between Finland and Estonia.
The last time a question about the Balticonnector was put to the PRC MoFA was on October 27, 2023:
- 美联社记者：本周二，芬兰国家调查局称一艘中国集装箱船的船锚造成了波罗的海天然气管道破损。中方曾就此事作过回应，请问是否要作进一步评论？
The Associated Press: On Tuesday there were reports with the Finnish police saying that the anchor of a Chinese container vessel had caused damage to the Balticconnector gas pipeline. I understand this question has been asked before, but I was wondering if there were any further comments from the foreign ministry on this incident.
- 毛宁：目前事件还在调查中，我们同各方保持着沟通，希望能够本着客观、公正、专业的原则，早日查明事实真相。
Mao Ning: I answered this question the other day. We are in communication with parties concerned. The incident is still under investigation. We hope that what happened will be found out soon in an objective, fair and professional manner.
Read the interaction here: (https://srv646202.hstgr.cloud/doc-search/Balticconnector)
There was indeed a much lengthier response two days earlier claiming an investigation was underway, but MoFA has offered nothing further - at least, nothing in their dailies. NewNew Polar Bear, as of this morning, was near Nakhodka east of Vladivostok.
The earlier press event can be read in its entirety here: https://tinyurl.com/4cfk8mpc
Here are the relevant portions:
- 芬兰赫尔辛基新闻记者：芬兰国家调查局称，波罗的海天然气管道受损是由一艘船拖拽船锚所致，在管道附近海床发现了船锚。
Helsingin Sanomat: According to the statement of the central police investigating force in Finland, the damage to a Baltic Sea gas pipeline was caused by a ship dragging a large anchor along the sea bed. The anchor has been found in the sea bed next to the pipeline.
- 据调查局称，中国“新新北极熊”号是主要嫌疑对象，事件发生时它就在现场，且之后被发现少了一个锚。
According to the police, Chinese ship NewNew Polar Bear is the main suspect. It was at the spot exactly at the time of the incident, and it has been later seen sailing apparently without one of its anchors.
- 芬兰当局试图在该船位于芬兰专属经济区海域时取得联系，该船没有回应。
The ship did not respond when Finnish authorities tried to contact it at the Finnish economic waters.
- 我想提三个问题：第一，发言人对目前的调查结果有何评论？
I have three questions. Number one, how do you comment the current results of the investigation?
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- 第二，中国官员是否已经与该船船长或船员取得联系？他们有何说法？
Number two, have Chinese officials been able to talk to the captain and other people on the board? What do they say about the incident?
- 第三，中国官方与该船或管道受损一事是否有关？
And number three, has the state of China any connection to the ship or the incident of broken gas pipeline?
- 毛宁：你的三个问题我一并回答。
Mao Ning: Let me take these three questions altogether.
- 首先，中方一贯主张国际社会应当加强合作，共同维护跨境基础设施安全。
China always holds that the international community needs to strengthen cooperation to jointly safeguard the safety and security of transboundary infrastructure. This is very important.
- 关于你提到的这个事件，中方同芬兰等方面保持着顺畅的沟通。
China maintains unimpeded communication with parties including Finland over this incident you mentioned.
- 事件还在调查中，我们希望有关方面本着客观、公正、专业的原则，早日查明事实真相。
The incident is still under investigation. We hope relevant parties will follow the principles of being objective, fair, just and professional and find out what happened soon.
- 中方愿意依据国际法提供必要协助。
China stands ready to provide necessary assistance in accordance with international law.
(end of transcript)
Generally speaking, "China stands ready" carries a positive, forward-looking sentiment.
? Technical infrastructure engineering, integration, operations, support, analysis & cyber security for datacenters, databases, networks & data. ex-Bloomberg, ex-Reuters, ex-Harvard, ex-NBER. ?? ??
4 个月would it be mistaken for a layman to read this interpretation as FoMA in 2023 using wordy verbiage (including mere recitation of already widely known reports ) but avoiding adding any new information while still asserting the importance of a fair and impartial investigation? So…. that was 2023 and now here we are in late 2024. Are you detecting any change in the tone of their response to such incidents? While I’m tempted to express opinions, mine are those of a layman in this realm.