S. Korea, China locked in standoff over China’s steel structure in overlapping maritime zone
By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, March 18 (Yonhap) — South Korea and China faced a two-hour standoff last month after Chinese authorities blocked Seoul’s attempt to investigate a steel structure in their overlapping waters in the Yellow Sea, diplomatic sources said Tuesday.
The clash occurred at around 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 26, when the South Korean authorities sent an Onnuri research ship to the Provisional Maritime Zone (PMZ) near the Ieodo Island, off South Korea’s southwest coast, according to the sources.
The vessel was dispatched to inspect the steel structure that China installed without authorization.
As the Onnuri vessel approached within about 1 kilometer of the structure, Chinese coast guard ships and three rubber boats carrying civilians blocked the South Korean vessel from deploying the survey equipment to the structure.
South Korea, in response, dispatched a Coast Guard vessel to the scene, leading to a standoff that lasted for over two hours, the sources said.
Although the South Korean vessel said its investigation was legitimate, the Chinese side claimed that the structure was an aquafarm and asked the Korean vessel to leave.
This undated photo shows the Onnuri research ship, provided by the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology. (Yonhap)
Some of the Chinese civilians were reportedly carrying knives, but no physical clash happened during the confrontation.
The PMZ is an area where the Exclusive Economic Zones of South Korea and China overlap. The two sides have reached an agreement to allow their fishing vessels to operate there and jointly manage marine resources, while prohibiting any activities beyond navigation and fishing.
Despite the agreement, China has installed several large steel structures in the zone, including two in April and May of last year, and another earlier this year, raising concerns over potential territorial disputes.
Beijing has insisted that the structures are for aquaculture purposes.
Seoul’s foreign ministry said Tuesday it is actively working with related government agencies to ensure the legitimate maritime rights and interests in the Yellow Sea.
“We have also delivered our firm position to China regarding the reported incident,” foreign ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong said in a press briefing.
The foreign ministry is said to have called in an official from the Chinese Embassy in Seoul to lodge a protest over the incident.
elly@yna.co.kr
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