China calls for inquiry into Nord Stream gas pipeline leaks

Name: Swedish Coast Guard releases new video from Nord Stream gas leak
Uploaded: 2022-10-01T10:00:15.000Z
Duration: 1 min 3 s
Description: Swedish Coast Guard releases new video from Nord Stream gas leak

Damage to infrastructure appears deliberate and will affect consumers around the world, envoy to United Nations says

Beijing abstains from UN vote to condemn Russian annexation of Ukrainian territory

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Damage to the Nord Stream pipelines appears to be deliberate, according to a Chinese envoy to the UN. Photo: Danish Defence/ AFP

Holly Chik

Published: 6:00pm, 1 Oct 2022

China has called for an investigation into the Nord Stream gas leaks amid suspicions of sabotage.

Geng Shuang, China’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, said on Friday that intelligence indicated the damage to the two major Russian gas pipelines to Europe was most likely deliberate.

“If true, it would constitute an attack on multinational civilian facilities and undersea pipelines in violation of international law,” Geng said in a speech to the UN Security Council.

“The leak highlights the fragility of cross-border infrastructure. We are willing to work with all parties to maintain their security.”

He said consumers around the world, including in developing countries, were likely to suffer in the resulting energy market turmoil.

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Swedish Coast Guard releases new video from Nord Stream gas leak

Also on Friday, Russia vetoed a Security Council resolution condemning its annexations of Ukrainian territory. Ten of the 15 council members supported the draft co-sponsored by the US and Albania, while Brazil, China, Gabon and India abstained.