South Korea plans to address the growing concern over China-built structures in the West Sea during a diplomatic meeting on Wednesday. Seoul will host the third Korea-China Dialogue on Maritime Cooperation, bringing together senior officials from both nations. This marks the first face-to-face meeting since the dialogue began following a 2019 agreement. Previous talks took place online in 2021 and 2022. South Korea’s Kang Young-shin and China’s Hong Liang will lead the discussions.
Officials confirmed that China-built structures in the West Sea will be a key issue on the agenda. Chinese authorities erected these facilities in the Provisional Measures Zone without consulting South Korea. The zone lies where the exclusive economic zones of both countries overlap. The 2000 Korea-China Fisheries Agreement established the PMZ to prevent disputes and manage resources jointly. However, it only regulates fishing activities and lacks provisions on construction.
South Korea suspects the China-built structures in the West Sea may serve purposes beyond aquaculture. Officials point to China’s past actions in the South China Sea as a warning. There, China constructed artificial islands and intensified regional tensions. Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kang Do-hyung addressed the matter in a public briefing on Monday. He said the government was exploring all options, including proportionate countermeasures. He added that consultations with fiscal authorities remain ongoing.
Kang revealed that a South Korean patrol ship first detected one of the structures in March 2022. It resembled a fortified offshore oil platform. The patrol vessel reported it immediately to the foreign ministry. Since then, South Korea has lodged repeated protests through diplomatic channels. Still, no clear confirmation has been received about the total number or function of the structures. China-built structures in the West Sea have triggered strong reactions from lawmakers. The People Power Party demanded a full explanation and urged China to comply with international norms. Rep. Jung Hee-yong even proposed a resolution to demand removal of the structures.
At a recent assembly meeting, floor leader Kweon Seong-dong condemned the installations. He accused China of violating the Korea-China Fisheries Agreement and compared the actions to China’s island-building strategy in the South China Sea. Kweon also criticized opposition leader Lee Jae-myung. He argued that Lee’s pro-China stance had encouraged Beijing’s boldness. With tensions rising, China-built structures in the West Sea are set to remain a major diplomatic challenge in the coming weeks.
