• Riddick3001@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    27
    ·
    edit-2
    2 days ago

    Considering the cable was likely cut by just dragging the anchor over the seafloor, there’s not much to find. It’s perfectly plausible that the crew consists of a bunch of idiots.

    It isn’t even a proper investigation as I read it. There were Chinese officials supervising the activities. Though I wonder what they could find, after the crew had ample time to get prepared, and to get rid of whatever evidence they might have had.

    But they did drag the anchor for 100 miles (link WSJ). Dragging an anchor for 100 miles would’ve been very noticeable for any crewmember, experts say.

    • leisesprecher@feddit.org
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      arrow-down
      6
      ·
      2 days ago

      Sure, but can you prove that they were not just incompetent?

      You can blame the captain personally for negligence, sure, but unless he has instructions from an intelligence agency open on his desk, you can’t prove anything political.

      • NeuronautML@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        12
        ·
        2 days ago

        Honestly, they don’t really need to prove malicious intent. The stakeholders of the cable should hold the ship owner liable for the cost of repairs, holding the ship captive as collateral until such a time comes that the amount is paid. If the cost can’t be paid, then confiscate the ship and sell it to recoup the cost and as a deterrent measure.

        Whether or not they did it intentionally and why is a matter that should be left to intelligence agencies who will interrogate the crew and collect information about the ship to understand what’s going on and act accordingly.

        • sith@lemmy.zipOP
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          4
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          2 days ago

          It could also be that this is not sanctioned by China and that the crew members are working for Russia. It’s not obvious what China gains from this kind of behavior. China is very dependent on European good will and trade. Especially as the trade war with the US intensifies.

          • ForgotAboutDre@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            4
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            2 days ago

            China up to all the same fuckery as Russia. They’re actively involved in supplying weapons and evading sanctions with Russia. They aren’t doing Europe any favours.

            • Riddick3001@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              3
              ·
              edit-2
              1 day ago

              China up to all the same fuckery as Russia.

              Yeah, seems that way for sure. Been thinking about the arguments made in the comments here, and the most plausible explanation to me, is that it’s part of a psy-ops. Someone is benefiting from the chaos in de BalticSea, and probing to check out the new Nato defense protocols & responses or something Remember that the Northern European/ Baltic Nato borders recently expanded due to the membership of Sweden en Finland. The mobility of the Russian Kalijigrad naval base is therefore enormously being reduced.

          • golli@lemm.ee
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            2 days ago

            It’s not obvious what China gains from this kind of behavior.

            Maybe just testing the limits and pushing boundaries? I doubt this will result in any substantial consequences.

      • iturnedintoanewt@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        14
        ·
        2 days ago

        They also shut down their transponders right before the… accident, if I recall correctly. In my country we say “if it’s white and in a bottle…”

        • FoxyFerengi@lemm.ee
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          7
          ·
          2 days ago

          I need you to finish that saying for me lol

          I’ve come up with “it’s milk” and “it’s white-out”, then decided I don’t have the context to know what the correct ending would be. Google wants to talk about white wine, which is more yellow or green imo.

      • ForgotAboutDre@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        2 days ago

        A court would only have to prove that a competent sailor would notice. You couldn’t argue they weren’t competent sailors due to the fact they sailed across the world professionally. If you could argue they weren’t competent sailors, the most reasonable solution would be they were incompetent spies.

        It’s not excusable to drag a anchor for 100s of miles, it’s a difficult thing to do. Even if they didn’t cut cables they could still be liable for environmental damage.