`China sent gov`t vessel to claim Korea`s Ieo Island`

`China sent gov`t vessel to claim Korea`s Ieo Island`. July. 27, 2011 07:39. kchwang@donga.com zeitung@donga.com.

It was confirmed Tuesday that China forced suspension of work by a Korean vessel salving a ship near Ieo Island, which is located south of Korea`s Jeju Island.

Chinese vessels had patrolled near Ieo in 2003, when Korea built an ocean research station on the island, but this is the first time for Beijing to send a ship to claim sovereignty over the island.

The Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry said Saturday that a Korean manufacturer of tugboats and barges was supporting salvage work in waters 0.8 kilometer southwest of Ieo from April after the 50,905-ton bulk coal ship Oriental Hope sank there.

The ship is owned by a company based in Jeju and a Dutch company was doing the salvage work.

On June 13 and July 2 and 5, China sent a government vessel to the area and sent a message through wireless telecommunication to a Korean ship that was aiding the salvage. The Chinese vessel warned that the Korean ship was doing salvage work in Chinese territorial waters without approval from China.

The Korean ship notified Seogwipo maritime police of the situation, and a 3,000-ton Korean patrol ship was sent to the area.

Jeju maritime police told the Chinese vessel on July 5 that the matter had nothing to do with China, adding the Korean vessel got approval from its government. Seogwipo maritime police has since stationed the vessel in the area to guard against any further provocation.

The Korean Foreign Ministry received a report on the Chinese vessel’s provocation but refused to disclose details, raising suspicion that it could be keeping the provocation secret due to diplomatic concerns.

China has long claimed sovereignty over Ieo. China Oceanic Information Network under the State Oceanic Administration said through its official website that Suyan Islet (the Chinese name for Ieo) is located inside Chinese territorial waters.

China apparently seems to have taken advantage of the lack of bilateral agreement on the borders of exclusive economic zones.

The Korean government asked China for a correction, saying, “Ieo Island, an underwater rock, is located in Korean territorial waters and is thus not subject to territorial conflict.”