Sweden has sent a formal request to China to cooperate with an investigation into suspected sabotage over the sudden disruption of two submarine internet cables in the Baltic Sea earlier this month, after tracking data linked a Chinese ship to the incidents.

Sweden asked for Beijing's cooperation with an investigation.China said on Friday it was ready to assist in a probe into the severing of two cables in the Baltic Sea. It comes after Sweden asked for Beijing's cooperation in the probe into the rupture of two data cables on November 17-18 in an area where a China- flagged vessel had been sighted.

The Baltic Sea, a hub for maritime trade and critical infrastructure, has become a growing point of concern. Recent incidents, such as damaged undersea cables and rising tensions, have brought its security into focus.