South Korea establishes a system to track Chinese activities in the contested waters

South Korea has established a “reciprocal” platform in a contested region of the Yellow Sea, referred to as the West Sea in Seoul, where China has been increasingly constructing facilities, according to Oceans Minister Kang Do-hyung on Wednesday.

China claims these structures are for fish farming; however, their presence has raised concerns in Seoul about Beijing potentially trying to assert claims in the Provisional Maritime Zone, where the exclusive economic zones of both nations intersect.

Kang informed parliament that South Korea is keeping a close watch on the Chinese activities by deploying a stationary floating platform for “environmental surveys.” “South Korea has implemented a reciprocal measure with a large-scale floating object,” he stated.

In February, a South Korean research vessel tasked with investigating the Chinese structures was obstructed by Chinese coast guard vessels and civilian rubber boats, as reported by South Korean media. The South Korean coast guard was also involved in a two-hour standoff before ultimately withdrawing, according to these reports.

Lawmakers from South Korea’s ruling People Power Party labeled the Chinese presence a “direct challenge to marine security” on Tuesday and called for a stronger response. Kwon Young-se, the chairman of the party’s emergency response committee, accused China of using fishing as a pretext and likened its actions to those in the South China Sea, where Beijing asserts extensive claims despite overlapping territorial claims from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. “The West Sea is not merely a body of water; it is Korea,” he emphasized. “It is the livelihood of many fishermen and a critical aspect of our security.”

On Wednesday, a representative from the Chinese embassy in Seoul issued a statement asserting that certain reports regarding the structures in question are inaccurate and do not breach any agreements. The spokesperson clarified, “The facilities established by China are deep-sea aquaculture operations situated in its coastal waters, representing a legitimate use of offshore marine resources.”

Additionally, the spokesperson emphasized that China is committed to maintaining dialogue through diplomatic means and aims to “prevent unnecessary politicization of the issue.” They also noted that China and South Korea have consistently engaged in effective communication regarding their maritime differences.