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Time of India
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Chinese aggression escalates in disputed PMZ waters
China is now stepping up its game in the Yellow Sea by constructing a massive steel rig, following similar aggressive posturing in the South China Sea. This development has become a fresh source of conflict between China and South Korea. The Eurasian Times reported that Korean ships attempted to examine the steel structure, leading to a recent standoff between the coast guards of the two nations. According to diplomatic sources cited by South Korean news agency Yonhap, the two coast guards were at odds for two hours. The Eurasian Times reported that the altercation occurred on the afternoon of February 26 in the Provisional Maritime Zone (PMZ), close to Socotra Rock , southwest of Jeju Island in South Korea. 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Transform Your Child's Confidence with Our Public Speaking Program Planet Spark Book Now Undo The PMZ is a jointly administered area in the Yellow Sea--referred to as the West Sea in Korea--where South Korea's and China's exclusive economic zones (EEZs) overlap. The South Korean research ship Onnuri was sent by the government to inspect the structure, but it was blocked by Chinese coast guard vessels and civilian boats, mirroring tactics reportedly used against the Philippine Coast Guard. A two-hour standoff followed after Seoul dispatched a coast guard ship to the location. South Korea asserted that its inspection was legitimate, but China countered by claiming the structure was an aquafarm and requested the Korean ship to leave. Live Events South Korea responded to the incident by summoning a representative of the Chinese Embassy in Seoul to lodge a formal protest. According to recent satellite imagery, China has constructed several large steel platforms within the PMZ. The Eurasian Times noted that the PMZ was established under a 2000 agreement that permits fishing and transit until a final maritime boundary is agreed upon. One of the installations is a 71.5-metre-tall underwater marine cage named Shen Lan 2 Hao (also known as Deep Blue 2), intended for salmon farming. The massive cage and its jack-up support equipment have sparked concern in South Korea. The Eurasian Times reported that the Korean government maintains the right to inspect the structure under the 2001 Korea-China Fisheries Agreement . The Eurasian Times further stated that South Korea claims the structure was installed without permission or prior notification. China had previously set up similar platforms in the area, but they were dismantled after protests from Seoul. The latest installation, featuring three long legs that anchor to the sea floor, signals growing Chinese involvement in the disputed region.
Memri
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Memri
South Korean TV KBS: 'China Is Trying To Expand Its Influence In The West Sea And Create A Basis For Future Territorial Claims'
On March 18, 2025, South Korean pay television channel KBS reported that China had been caught once again installing large structures in the South Korea-China Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ) in the West Sea, also known as the Yellow Sea, where activities other than fishing are prohibited. The Korea-China PMZ is a maritime area established under a 2001 bilateral agreement to jointly manage overlapping exclusive economic zones (EEZs) in the West Sea. (Source: KBS) Following is a transcript of KBS's report: [1] "Standoff" Between China And South Korea Anchor: "China has once again been caught installing large structures in the South Korea-China Provisional Measures Zone in the West Sea, where activities other than fishing are prohibited. As our [Republic of Korea (ROK; South Korea)] government began an investigation, the Chinese side obstructed it, leading to a standoff between the two sides, which has only recently come to light. "There are suspicions that the Chinese government is laying the groundwork to assert territorial claims in the future, and our government has strongly protested to the Chinese Embassy." (Source: KBS) (Source: KBS) "The South Korean government launched an investigation into the steel structure installed by China in the Korea-China Provisional Action Zone (PMZ) in the West Sea near Ieodo Island and confronted the Chinese coast guard." (Source: KBS; Onnuri, a marine research and science ship. (Source: Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Yonhap News) "China Illegally Installed Two Large Structures In This Area" Reporter: "Earlier this year, it was detected by our reconnaissance satellites that China had illegally installed a 50-meter-high steel structure in the 'South Korea-China Provisional Measures Zone.' On the 26th of last month [February 2025], the government sent the marine survey vessel Onnuri to inspect the structure, but as we approached, Chinese coast guard and civilians in three rubber boats came to block us, leading to a two-hour standoff with our coast guard. "The Chinese side claimed, 'It is an aquaculture facility, so go back,' while our side insisted it was a 'legitimate investigation.' "Immediately after the incident, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned officials from the Chinese embassy in South Korea to convey our firm stance and protest. [Lee Jae-woong/Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: 'The government is actively responding at a whole-of-government level to ensure that our legitimate and lawful maritime rights in the West Sea are not affected.'] "The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that there are ongoing communications regarding maritime disputes between the two countries. [Mao Ning/Spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: 'I can say that there are overlapping points in the maritime rights claims of China and South Korea.'] "The South Korea-China Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ) is an area where the exclusive economic zones of both countries overlap, and all activities other than fishing are prohibited. "Last year, China also illegally installed two large structures in this area, prompting a backlash from our government, and now they have installed another structure. "There are suspicions that China is trying to expand its influence in the West Sea and create a basis for future 'territorial claims.'" [1] March 18, 2025.
South China Morning Post
18-03-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Yellow Sea stand-off over ‘steel structure' raises China-South Korea tensions: reports
Details have emerged about an apparent two-hour stand-off between South Korean and Chinese coastguard vessels last month, which began when South Korea attempted to investigate a steel structure in the Yellow Sea, media in Seoul reported on Tuesday. Advertisement According to South Korea's Yonhap news agency, citing South Korean diplomatic sources, the confrontation played out on the afternoon of February 26 in the Provisional Maritime Zone (PMZ) near Socotra Rock , southwest of South Korea's Jeju Island The incident erupted when Chinese coastguard ships along with three smaller civilian boats blocked the South Korean research ship Onnuri, which had been dispatched to survey a structure built by the Chinese without Seoul's authorisation. In response, a South Korean coastguard vessel was dispatched to the scene leading to a stand-off that lasted for more than two hours, Yonhap reported. South Korea said its inspection was legitimate, while the Chinese side claimed that the structure was an aquafarm and asked the Korean vessel to leave, according to the report. Some of the Chinese civilians reportedly carried knives, but there was no physical struggle. Advertisement South Korea's foreign ministry said it was working with related government agencies to ensure the country's legitimate maritime rights and interests in the Yellow Sea. 'We have also delivered our firm position to China regarding the reported incident,' ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong said on Tuesday.
