China has been installing ‘illegal structures’ including helipads in the Yellow Sea since three years ago… Government response has become urgent.

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China's Controversy Over Additional Fixed Marine Structures in the West Sea's Temporary Measures Zone

The diplomatic friction is escalating as it has been confirmed that China has added a fixed marine structure in the West Sea Temporary Measures Zone (PMZ) with South Korea.

According to a report by the Chosun Ilbo on the 19th, it has been revealed that, in addition to the two existing large movable structures, China has added and is operating one fixed structure resembling an oil drilling platform.

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The newly confirmed fixed structure is installed using metal legs that are anchored to the seabed, and experts analyze this as a strategic move by China to expand its maritime occupation in the West Sea.

Strategic Move for China's Maritime Occupation Expansion in the West Sea

Previously, China claimed that the two structures it installed were aquaculture facilities named 'Xianlan (深藍).' The newly added fixed structure has been described as supplementary equipment for managing the Xianlan facilities.

However, the South Korean government views this not merely as a fishing purpose but rather as a preliminary move for maritime occupation and is keeping a close watch on the situation.

The Scale of the Fixed Structure and South Korea's Response

According to information authorities, the newly confirmed fixed structure is a large facility measuring 100m in width, 80m in length, and 50m in height, and it is said to even include a helicopter landing area.

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The structure is anchored to the seabed through a metal leg design, utilizing technology used for oil drilling platforms.

China installed the first Xianlan structure in 2018 and added the second in 2023. The problematic fixed structure is thought to have first been installed around 185 km southeast of Qingdao in 2022.

It has been reported that South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin directly raised the issue of the structure during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the end of last month, lodging a formal protest.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to hold a director-level meeting with Chinese foreign authorities as early as next week to commence serious discussions regarding the West Sea structure issue.

Image source: AI image for understanding the article / Bing Image Creator, Xianlan 1 / Xinhua News Agency

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