Envoy calls for Nord Stream blasts probe

A Chinese envoy to the United Nations on Tuesday reiterated the call for an objective, impartial and professional investigation into the explosion of the Nord Stream pipelines in September last year.

The explosion "not only poses a direct threat to the security of transnational infrastructure, but also has a negative impact on the ecological environment and shipping safety in related sea areas", Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, told a UN Security Council meeting on the gas pipelines.

"It is necessary to conduct independent and professional investigations into the incident in an attitude of being responsible for regional security and development, and ensure that the conclusions are objective, fair and authoritative, and can stand the test of history," Geng said.

On Sept 26, 2022, a series of explosions occurred on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipelines. In the days following, Denmark, Sweden and Germany initiated their own investigations into the incidents. As of now, no investigation has reached a clear conclusive outcome.

"The longer the delay, the harder it is to collect evidence and find out the truth, the more doubts and speculations there are from the outside world, and the lower the credibility of the investigation results," he said.

"China believes that the best way to respond to the concerns of the international community is to announce the findings of the investigation as soon as possible, even if it is only a phased progress," he added.

Geng said the explosions occurred in the context of the Ukrainian crisis. After the incident, relevant parties made completely different analyses and interpretations.

He said the investigation should not be politicized and not subject to "political manipulation".

Geng pointed out that Russia is one of the main parties involved in the Nord Stream pipelines, and communication and cooperation with Russia "are indispensable for any objective and fair investigation".

"It is hoped that relevant countries can recognize this and take corresponding positive measures," he said.

Russia in March had submitted a draft resolution calling on the UN secretary-general to establish an independent international commission to investigate the explosion of the pipelines, which move natural gas from Russia to Europe under the Baltic Sea. The Security Council did not adopt the resolution.

"China calls for an early investigation of the truth about the Nord Stream pipelines explosion, bringing the perpetrators to justice as soon as possible, and supports the (UN) Secretariat in providing more useful information and the Security Council's attention to this matter," Geng said.