Korea-China maritime cooperation dialogue discusses West Sea structures, illegal fishing, and search and rescue training

Discussion on search and rescue training in the provisional measures area

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Ji-heon = The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 22nd that Korea and China held the 4th Korea-China Maritime Cooperation Dialogue in Tianjin, China on the 21st to discuss overall maritime issues.

Nam Jin, Director of the Northeast and Central Asia Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Hou Yanqi, Director of the Border and Ocean Affairs Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, served as the chief representatives, and related ministries of both countries, including the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Korea Coast Guard, attended.

The Korean side conveyed its concerns regarding the West Sea structure issue and emphasized its basic position.

The Chinese side again expressed its position that the structure in question is a facility purely for aquaculture purposes and has nothing to do with sovereignty or maritime demarcation. Both sides agreed to continue discussions on this issue in the spirit of mutual respect.

The Korean side emphasized the government's will and efforts to eradicate illegal fishing in the West Sea, and the Chinese side explained China's position and efforts regarding crackdown on illegal fishing in accordance with the law.

The two sides agreed to continue constructive communication on ways to maintain maritime order by strengthening the joint crackdown on illegal fishing.

The two sides discussed ways to strengthen practical cooperation in various fields, such as search and rescue training in the provisional measure zone and joint release of fry, while also agreeing to continue efforts to delimit the maritime boundary between the two sides, including holding a Korea-China maritime demarcation meeting.

The two sides agreed to hold the 5th Korea-China Maritime Cooperation Dialogue in Korea at a mutually convenient time.

The Korea-China Maritime Cooperation Dialogue is a director-level consultative body that discusses all maritime issues between Korea and China. It was established through an agreement between the foreign ministers of the two countries in December 2019.