Truth of the Nord Stream pipeline explosions must not be covered up: Chinese envoy to UN

The truth about the Nord Stream pipeline explosions must not be covered up. The investigation should not be politicized, such incidents must not be allowed to happen again, Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said at a meeting of the UN Security Council on Tuesday.

On the afternoon of August 26 local time, at Russia's request, the UN Security Council convened an emergency meeting on the Nord Stream pipeline explosions that occurred three years ago.

Speaking at the meeting, Geng said that after the explosions, some members of the UN Security Council strongly argued for giving Sweden, Denmark, and Germany time to conduct their own national investigations. However, three years have passed, and there is still no clear conclusion or the full truth about the blasts.

For a long time, the public has had to rely only on media leaks for information and speculation, which is abnormal, Geng noted.

China has taken note of reports that a suspect was recently arrested, as well as the joint letter from Germany, Sweden, and Denmark to the UN Security Council on the matter. But this is far from sufficient to address the doubts and concerns of the international community.

Geng said China hopes that Germany will expedite the investigation and trial process, promptly release progress and results through official channels, and that the relevant countries will communicate and cooperate with the main parties involved in the explosions. China also hopes the UN Security Council will continue to follow this matter.

Geng reiterated that the truth must not be covered up, the investigation should not be politicized, similar incidents must never happen again, and the perpetrators must not go unpunished. The international community deserves an explanation regarding the Nord Stream pipeline explosions.

On September 26, 2022, unprecedented explosions caused severe damage to the Nord Stream pipelines, including three of the four lines of Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2, the latter of which had not been put into operation, per Xinhua.