China's offshore structure 'Deep Blue 2' / Photo = SDMG

Chinese Envoy's Aquaculture Claim on Yellow Sea Structures Draws Skepticism in Korea

SOUTH KOREA
Wednesday, March 26, 2025, 10:00 (GMT + 9)

Chinese Ambassador to Korea Dai Bing reiterated that the steel structures installed by Beijing in the Korea-China Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ) of the Yellow Sea are intended for "aquaculture," a claim that has intensified skepticism in Seoul regarding the viability of resolving the issue through international legal channels.

Professor Nam Sung-wook of North Korean Studies at Korea University, who met with Dai for over two hours, disclosed the ambassador's remarks on Tuesday.

"Ambassador Dai emphasized three times that the structures serve aquaculture purposes," Nam stated at a policy forum hosted by Rep. Na Kyung-won at the National Assembly. "However, based on our discussion, I believe a resolution via international law will be challenging."

Rep. Na Kyung-won of the conservative People Power Party delivers opening remarks Tuesday at a policy forum -->

The Korean government reported last week that China had unilaterally installed three large steel structures in the PMZ near Ieodo, a submerged rock in disputed waters, and obstructed a Korean research vessel's attempt to inspect one of the installations in late February.

Seoul subsequently lodged a diplomatic protest and summoned a Chinese Embassy official.

A senior Foreign Ministry official told reporters that the structures were not installed under the Korea-China Fisheries Agreement, adding, "the government cannot rush to judgment on matters concerning Korea's maritime rights in the Yellow Sea."

Analysts suggest that China's actions may extend beyond fisheries, potentially linking the structures to a conflict scenario in the Taiwan Strait.

"A direct line from these structures toward the Korean Peninsula reaches Mokpo, Muan, and Pyeongtaek," Nam noted. "Targeting Pyeongtaek appears aimed at limiting U.S. Forces Korea's operational capabilities during a Taiwan contingency."

Nam also expressed doubt about the efficacy of international law in addressing China's actions, advocating for Korea to consider "building counter-structures" as a strategic response.

Kim Doo-young, former deputy registrar of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (Itlos), warned that a grid of 12 structures, each 70 meters in diameter and spaced 1 kilometer apart, could effectively block over 12 kilometers of sea, impeding Korean fishing and research vessels. He cautioned that this could lead to a legal dispute under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The controversy has prompted rare bipartisan unity in Korea's National Assembly, with both conservative and liberal lawmakers condemning China's actions and demanding immediate intervention.

Rep. Na introduced a resolution to defend sovereignty in the Yellow Sea, denouncing China's behavior as a violation of international law and demanding the structures' immediate removal.

"China's actions—installing artificial structures in disputed waters and blocking access—mirror its 'gray zone' tactics in the South and East China Seas," she stated. "They are clearly attempting to extend this strategy to the Yellow Sea to bolster their territorial claims."

Democratic Party (DP) spokesperson Park Kyung-mee expressed "strong regret" over China's "seed-planting for maritime conflict."

She urged Beijing to halt construction and cooperate with Korean inspections, emphasizing the risk to 33 years of diplomatic trust.

DP member Kim Byung-joo labeled China's unilateral actions a "direct threat to Korea's maritime sovereignty" that could escalate into a "serious national security issue."

"The DP will not remain passive," Rep. Kim declared. "The National Assembly must investigate and, if necessary, conduct an on-site inspection."

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