Pinoy
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2016-01-19
The flaring up of territorial dispute over the ownership of Socotra rocks has again raised questions on the bonhomie between South Korea-China relation. After not pursuing a claim for several years, China again raised the issue of the Socotra Rock during a meeting by officials from both nations in December 2015. China demanded that not only should Seoul yield a large portion of its exclusive economic zone in the Yellow Sea, but also that the Socotra Rock, named after a British merchant vessel, should be known as Suyan Reef (Ieodo in Korean), as China claims it falls under its own maritime jurisdiction.
The importance of China in South Korean foreign policy affairs can be seen from several perspectives. China is not only South Korea's largest trading partner of South Korea, but China would play a critical role in any serious plan to unify the Korean peninsula. Also, South Korea signaled last year that it would join the China-sponsored Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) ignoring U.S. resistance, and also signed a free trade agreement with China to boost the Korean economy. Furthermore, Seoul has until now parried a request from the United States to agree on installing the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD) system on Korean soil, which Beijing has objected to as a threat to its national security. South Korean reluctance of stalling on the THAAD issue suggests some movement away from the United States and towards China, which was also seen in the decision by South Korean President Park Guen-hye to participate in the Chinese WW II anniversary celebration last September, an event which most American allies avoided. However, after so much progress between the two countries, the Socotra Rock dispute threatens to serious disrupt South Korean-Chinese relations.
According to the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS), a country has special rights to claim up to 200 nautical miles from its coastline, defined as an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). However, if more than one country is involved and an area is disputed, then the demarcation should be decided by the concerned countries. Although Socotra Rock falls closer to Korean territory compared to China (close to 90 miles from the Korean coastline and more than 170 miles from the Chinese coastline), Korea has agreed that the maritime area should be demarcated equally under international norm, which would not resolve how the rock would be named. China does not agree with Korea's position, and officials from both countries believe that the next round of talks will not be easy because of China's strong stance on the issue.
It is not the first time that China has claimed its ownership on the larger part of the submerged rock. In fact, in 2006 China raised this issue and also objected to the construction by South Korea of the Ocean Research Center, which was built in the dispute region. In 2012, the issue again became inflamed when China’s State Oceanic Administration declared Socotra Rock as a part of the Chinese maritime area. In 2013 when China unilaterally declared its Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the area and asked foreign aircrafts to identify themselves when flying through it, Seoul objected though in a very subtle manner, cognizant of its critical economic interests with Beijing. Although there have been several rounds of meetings to resolve the issue, little progress has been made because of China's unwillingness to compromise its position.
Until now, Seoul has avoided taking sides in territorial disputes involving China and other countries in the region. Now that it faces its own territorial tug of war with China, South Korea may find it difficult to remain neutral in such disputes in order to counteract China's growing assertiveness in claiming territories in the region. This could create further tension between the countries in the future and jeopardize a relationship that had been showing a great deal of closeness in recent years.
China's claim on Ieodo
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Obviously China's greed is destabilizing the whole of Southeast and East Asia. It has shown to its neighbors her true color.
The flaring up of territorial dispute over the ownership of Socotra rocks has again raised questions on the bonhomie between South Korea-China relation. After not pursuing a claim for several years, China again raised the issue of the Socotra Rock during a meeting by officials from both nations in December 2015. China demanded that not only should Seoul yield a large portion of its exclusive economic zone in the Yellow Sea, but also that the Socotra Rock, named after a British merchant vessel, should be known as Suyan Reef (Ieodo in Korean), as China claims it falls under its own maritime jurisdiction.
The importance of China in South Korean foreign policy affairs can be seen from several perspectives. China is not only South Korea's largest trading partner of South Korea, but China would play a critical role in any serious plan to unify the Korean peninsula. Also, South Korea signaled last year that it would join the China-sponsored Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) ignoring U.S. resistance, and also signed a free trade agreement with China to boost the Korean economy. Furthermore, Seoul has until now parried a request from the United States to agree on installing the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD) system on Korean soil, which Beijing has objected to as a threat to its national security. South Korean reluctance of stalling on the THAAD issue suggests some movement away from the United States and towards China, which was also seen in the decision by South Korean President Park Guen-hye to participate in the Chinese WW II anniversary celebration last September, an event which most American allies avoided. However, after so much progress between the two countries, the Socotra Rock dispute threatens to serious disrupt South Korean-Chinese relations.
According to the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS), a country has special rights to claim up to 200 nautical miles from its coastline, defined as an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). However, if more than one country is involved and an area is disputed, then the demarcation should be decided by the concerned countries. Although Socotra Rock falls closer to Korean territory compared to China (close to 90 miles from the Korean coastline and more than 170 miles from the Chinese coastline), Korea has agreed that the maritime area should be demarcated equally under international norm, which would not resolve how the rock would be named. China does not agree with Korea's position, and officials from both countries believe that the next round of talks will not be easy because of China's strong stance on the issue.
It is not the first time that China has claimed its ownership on the larger part of the submerged rock. In fact, in 2006 China raised this issue and also objected to the construction by South Korea of the Ocean Research Center, which was built in the dispute region. In 2012, the issue again became inflamed when China’s State Oceanic Administration declared Socotra Rock as a part of the Chinese maritime area. In 2013 when China unilaterally declared its Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the area and asked foreign aircrafts to identify themselves when flying through it, Seoul objected though in a very subtle manner, cognizant of its critical economic interests with Beijing. Although there have been several rounds of meetings to resolve the issue, little progress has been made because of China's unwillingness to compromise its position.
Until now, Seoul has avoided taking sides in territorial disputes involving China and other countries in the region. Now that it faces its own territorial tug of war with China, South Korea may find it difficult to remain neutral in such disputes in order to counteract China's growing assertiveness in claiming territories in the region. This could create further tension between the countries in the future and jeopardize a relationship that had been showing a great deal of closeness in recent years.
China's claim on Ieodo
--------------
Obviously China's greed is destabilizing the whole of Southeast and East Asia. It has shown to its neighbors her true color.
they know what kind of game u are playing. Try to find those who have dispute with China and try to team up with them to fight against China.
