The picture shows an aerial photograph released by the Danish Ministry of Defence on September 27th, 2022, showing a leak in the "Beixi" natural gas pipeline.
(Xinhua News Agency)
Recently, the explosion of the "Beixi" natural gas pipeline has once again attracted the attention of the international community. A few days ago, the public prosecutor in charge of investigating the incident in the Swedish Procuratorate said that although the possibility of an explosion by an independent organization is not ruled out in theory, the current investigation results show that the explosion is most likely to be directly or indirectly involved by state actors.
In September 2022, the "Beixi" natural gas pipeline that transported natural gas from Russia to Europe via the Baltic Sea exploded, and all parties generally believed that this incident was "deliberate destruction". Who is the culprit? More than half a year has passed, and the truth is still confusing.
What is even more intriguing is the attitude of the United States and Europe in investigating the incident. Washington post recently quoted a European diplomat as saying, "Don’t talk about ‘ Beixi ’ " Now it has become an unwritten rule when NATO and EU policymakers meet. Why do American and European political circles and western mainstream media avoid talking about "Beixi"? What is the truth? Will the explosion of "Beixi" natural gas pipeline really become a secret that can’t be said or solved under the heavy cloud of doubt?
What are the questions about the incident?
At the end of September, 2022, there were four leakage points in the parts of the "Beixi No.1" and "Nord Stream 2" pipelines located in the waters near Sweden and Denmark. At that time, the Swedish survey station detected two strong underwater explosions in the sea area where the pipeline leaked, and all parties generally believed that the pipeline was deliberately damaged. A few days after the incident, Denmark, Sweden and Germany began independent investigations, and no clear conclusion has been reached so far. During this period, around the key issue of "who is behind the scenes", all parties speculated and broke the news.
In February this year, Seymour Hirsch, a senior American investigative journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner, wrote that the "Beixi" pipeline was secretly destroyed by US intelligence agencies and US military personnel. In this regard, the US government denied it. On March 7, the US media reported that a pro-Ukrainian group had created the explosion with US government officials as the source. Ukrainian Defense Minister Reznikov immediately denied that Uzbekistan had anything to do with the explosion. Russian President Vladimir Putin once said that the explosion of the "Beixi" natural gas pipeline was a terrorist attack at the national level.
Wang Zhen, a researcher at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, said in an interview with this reporter that from the comprehensive information of all parties, there are two judgments that are relatively positive at present: First, the bombing of the "Beixi" natural gas pipeline was a man-made destruction; Second, the destruction may be supported by transnational official background, and general organizations do not have such strong attack means and tactical coordination ability.
"Specifically, the current ‘ Beixi ’ There are three main questions about the explosion of natural gas pipeline: First, the biggest question is who is the direct perpetrator. After the incident, the United States, Europe, Ukraine and Russia blamed each other, but they did not produce conclusive evidence; Secondly, the attitude of western countries towards this incident is intriguing. This incident involved an attack on important civilian infrastructure, which had a great impact and was of a bad nature. However, Western countries and the media remained almost silent, not only selectively ignoring Seymour Hirsch’s report, but also taking a negative or even opposing attitude towards Russia’s call for the establishment of an international commission of inquiry. Third, Germany, Denmark and other European countries launched an investigation into the incident. Why is the progress slow? Is it because of the difficulty in investigation and evidence collection, the lack of clues, or the results of the investigation are too sensitive to be announced under great external pressure? " Wang Zhen said.
Seymour Hirsch once again pointed his finger at the United States when interviewed by the German media a few days ago. He said that the United States wanted to blackmail Russia by blowing up the "Beixi" natural gas pipeline. In a heavy report of more than 5,000 words published in February, he described in detail the whole process of planning by the US national security department, personally ordering by US President Biden, implementing by the US Navy and cooperating with the Norwegian military, and finally blowing up the "Beixi" natural gas pipeline.
Karina Zhao, director of the Russian and European Institute of the International Strategy Institute of the Central Party School (National School of Administration), told this reporter that the "Beixi" natural gas pipeline is an important artery related to European energy security, involving the energy interests of almost all EU countries. After the destruction of such an important infrastructure, in addition to the unexpected calm reaction of relevant European countries and the abnormal attitude of refusing to conduct a joint investigation with Russia, what role the United States played in this incident is also an important question.
"As we all know, the United States has been opposed to ‘ Beixi ’ Natural gas pipelines, trying to interfere and prevent pipeline construction through sanctions and other means, do not want too close energy cooperation between Russia and Europe. Objectively speaking, the United States is indeed this time ‘ Beixi ’ Strategic beneficiary of natural gas pipeline explosion. " Karina Zhao said.
Why do the United States and Europe dodge?
The truth of the "Beixi" natural gas pipeline explosion is confusing, as is the evasive attitude of political circles in the United States and Europe and most mainstream western media in investigating the incident.
Washington post recently reported that although the explosion of the "Beixi" natural gas pipeline aroused many people’s curiosity and speculation, some western officials were in no hurry to find out who blew up the pipeline. In the absence of specific clues, embarrassing silence prevailed. The newspaper quoted a European diplomat as saying that it was like a body at a family gathering. Everyone could see a body lying there, but they were pretending that everything was normal. "It’s better not to know (the truth)."
Juan gonzalez, founder of the All-American Hispanic Journalists Association, pointed out that the American media and Congress paid little attention to the explosion of the "Beixi" natural gas pipeline. "The media didn’t seem to be interested at all and didn’t want to know what happened there, and no one in the US Congress asked questions about it."
Why do American and European political circles and most western mainstream media avoid talking about "Beixi"?
"First of all, the investigation of this matter has not yet reached the final result, and the relevant discussion inevitably involves various ‘ Conspiracy theory ’ This will inevitably affect the unity and trust within Europe and NATO. Secondly, after the outbreak of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, ‘ Support Ukraine and oppose Russia ’ Has become a kind of western countries ‘ Political correctness ’ , related to this ‘ Beixi ’ Natural gas pipelines are also highly politicized. In this context, for ‘ Beixi ’ The discussion of the natural gas pipeline explosion is likely to be accused of having illusions about Russia, and politicians may not be willing to take such risks. " Wang Zhen pointed out that for European countries that rely on Russian energy, they are victims of the explosion of the "Beixi" natural gas pipeline, and the situation is actually very embarrassing. They have to endure the domestic inflationary pressure caused by "expired gas" without showing their nostalgia for Russian energy, and they are quite passive in terms of energy independence and strategic autonomy.
Karina Zhao believes that behind the evasive attitude of the United States and Europe is the concern of both sides about their so-called "overall situation". "In Europe’s view, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict led to the destruction of the European security pattern established after World War II, and Europe’s own geopolitical security was directly threatened. At present, the most important thing is to restore the security pattern in Europe, which cannot be separated from the military support of the United States. The United States hopes that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine will completely weaken Russia’s military challenge to the United States. To achieve this goal, it also needs the cooperation of Europe. Both the United States and Europe realize that ‘ Beixi ’ It is a topic that can easily intensify the differences between the two sides. If the investigation goes on, it is likely to damage the unity of the transatlantic alliance. Therefore, the United States and Europe very tacitly choose to ‘ Overall situation ’ I don’t want to touch it now ‘ Beixi ’ This highly controversial topic is likely to aggravate the conflict between the United States and Europe, so as not to affect their most important strategic security. "
As Washington post said, Western officials would rather not know who the culprit is than find their allies responsible for the explosion of the "Beixi" natural gas pipeline.
Can the mystery of "Beixi" be solved?
After the explosion of the "Beixi" natural gas pipeline, the voices of the international community calling for an objective, fair and professional investigation have come and gone. A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China recently said that it has been more than half a year since the explosion of the "Beixi" natural gas pipeline. Finding out the truth as soon as possible and publishing the investigation results are related to the global transnational infrastructure security, as well as the international rule of law and justice.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Jardot West also said earlier that the explosion of the "Beixi" natural gas pipeline was the first attack on an important infrastructure in Europe and should be regarded as a terrorist attack. Hungary supports a comprehensive, in-depth, systematic and detailed investigation of the incident, so that the international community can know the truth.
When will the truth of the explosion of the "Beixi" natural gas pipeline surface? Or, is it possible for the world to know the truth?
Wang Zhen believes that there are three possibilities for the investigation results of the "Beixi" natural gas pipeline explosion: "First, the relevant countries will announce the truth after completing the investigation, and the facts will be revealed to the world, which is the most anticipated result of the international community; Second, after completing the investigation, the relevant countries sealed up the results in the name of confidentiality and national security, and refused to publish the truth to avoid negative impact on the relevant countries and parties; Third, some countries publish false information in the name of investigation to confuse people and obstruct the international community from conducting objective investigations. Judging from the current situation that some countries refuse to conduct international joint investigations, the second situation is more likely, that is, the relevant countries refuse to publish the truth or selectively publish the investigation results in various names. "
No matter what the truth is, the serious negative impact of the "Beixi" natural gas pipeline explosion on the global geopolitical pattern and energy security has emerged and will deepen day by day.
Finland’s Helsinki Times pointed out that the explosion of the "Beixi" natural gas pipeline caused huge environmental and social consequences, and many European countries, including Germany, suffered huge losses in industry, and European energy prices soared.
"The truth of some major events may never be known to the world, but it will inevitably affect or change the trajectory of historical development. ‘ Beixi ’ The explosion of natural gas pipelines will undoubtedly have a major geopolitical impact. " Karina Zhao analyzed that on the one hand, the "Beixi" natural gas pipeline was destroyed, which basically cut off the energy cooperation link between Russia and Europe objectively, making Europe even want to maintain or resume energy cooperation with Russia, but it has become very difficult in physical conditions; On the other hand, at present, there are still many people in European political circles and public opinion circles who accept the American statement that Russia may have destroyed the "Beixi" natural gas pipeline, which further aggravated the antagonism between Russia and Europe.
Wang Zhen pointed out that in the short term, the explosion of the "Beixi" natural gas pipeline forced some European countries to reduce their energy dependence on Russia, and created opportunities for American energy to enter the European market better and faster after the "shale gas revolution"; In the long run, the incident further highlights NATO’s strategic value in dealing with the so-called "Russian threat", breaks the illusion of reconciliation and cooperation between Russia and Europe in the future, and blocks Europe’s step towards greater strategic autonomy.
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