On the 24th, the People Power Party urged the Democratic Party to clarify its position regarding China's installation of steel structures in the West Sea Korea-China Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ), stating that 'the Democratic Party remains silent.' There were also calls for the government to promptly review legal actions under international law, including filing a case with the International Court of Justice.
Jung Hee-joon, the deputy head of strategy and planning, emphasized on Facebook that 'the act of installing steel structures is a blatant infringement of South Korea's sovereignty' and called for a firm response from both the National Assembly and the government.
He stated, 'The three structures installed from last year to this year exhibit a typical strategy of 'seizing then establishing facts' that China has already shown in the South China Sea,' adding that 'China's claim of 'aquaculture facilities' is nothing but an outrageous lie responding to promises between nations with deception. The installation of the structures is prohibited under the agreement. This is a matter with no room for controversy.' He also criticized, 'Acting with physical threats against foreign vessels, disregarding powers clearly guaranteed by international law, is not behavior that a country calling itself a 'friendly nation' should engage in.'
He then urged the Chinese authorities to immediately dismantle the three illegal structures in the West Sea Provisional Measures Zone. He stressed that the government 'must promptly review and implement all legal actions under international law, including filing a case with the International Court of Justice.' He also added that establishing a 'National Assembly Special Taskforce for West Sea Incursion Response' for bipartisan action is necessary.
Earlier, China installed three mobile steel structures in the West Sea Korea-China PMZ from last year to this year. The West Sea Korea-China Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ) is part of the overlapping waters of the 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of South Korea and China in the middle of the West Sea. Fishing vessels from both countries operate together, and both governments jointly manage marine resources. Other activities besides navigation and fishing are prohibited. However, it is reported that when a South Korean marine survey vessel approached for inspection on the 26th of last month, the Chinese side blocked it with physical force. The Democratic Party has not issued any significant stance on the matter at the party level.
The People Power Party also urged the Democratic Party to clarify its position. Chief of Staff Choi Hyung-do noted during an emergency committee meeting held in the National Assembly that 'it has already been several days since it was revealed that China unlawfully installed large steel structures in the West Sea Provisional Measures Zone and threatened our marine survey vessel attempting to inspect it,' pointing out that 'the Democratic Party, the absolute majority party, remains silent and has not issued a single condemnation statement.' He called on Leader Lee Jae-myung to present a clear stance regarding the West Sea ahead of the West Sea Protection Day and the 15th anniversary of the Cheonan sinking.
The People Power Party also presented an analysis that 'the installation of the structures is meant to assert territorial claims.' Kim Yong-tae, a member of the emergency committee, stated in the meeting that 'what could China's intention be in attempting to install the structures without regard for our strong protests?' He added that 'just like in the South China Sea, it seems that the goal is to claim the West Sea Provisional Measures Zone as Chinese territorial waters using the structures as a pretext.' He continued, 'The Chinese structures in the West Sea are a matter of national security,' urging that 'we must unite so that the Chinese government does not underestimate us. We should retract the impeachment motion of Acting President Choi Sang-mok, which will be dismissed anyway, and the Democratic Party should issue a strong statement regarding the Chinese structures.'