Yellow Sea stand-off over ‘steel structure’ raises China-South Korea tensions: reports

Last month’s confrontation between coastguards began when Chinese vessels blocked South Korean inspection of an object off Jeju Island, reports say

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An attempt by the Onnuri, a South Korean marine research and science vessel, to inspect a steel structure in the Yellow Sea last month was resisted by Chinese vessels, leading to a coastguard stand-off, according to reports. Photo: Handout

Published: 8:08pm, 18 Mar 2025Updated: 1:29pm, 19 Mar 2025

Details have emerged about an apparent two-hour stand-off between South Korean and Chinese coastguard vessels last month, which began when South Korea attempted to investigate a steel structure in the Yellow Sea, media in Seoul reported on Tuesday.

According to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, citing South Korean diplomatic sources, the confrontation played out on the afternoon of February 26 in the Provisional Maritime Zone (PMZ) near Socotra Rock, southwest of South Korea’s Jeju Island.

The incident erupted when Chinese coastguard ships along with three smaller civilian boats blocked the South Korean research ship Onnuri, which had been dispatched to survey a structure built by the Chinese without Seoul’s authorisation.

In response, a South Korean coastguard vessel was dispatched to the scene leading to a stand-off that lasted for more than two hours, Yonhap reported. South Korea said its inspection was legitimate, while the Chinese side claimed that the structure was an aquafarm and asked the Korean vessel to leave, according to the report.

Some of the Chinese civilians reportedly carried knives, but there was no physical struggle.

South Korea’s foreign ministry said it was working with related government agencies to ensure the country’s legitimate maritime rights and interests in the Yellow Sea.