Government Strengthens Diplomatic Response to Illegal Chinese Fishing Near NLL... Cooperation With China Also Enhanced

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Unification,
Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Korea Coast Guard

Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Revise "Enforcement Decree of the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone Act" and

The government will strengthen diplomatic responses, including cooperation with the Chinese government, to prevent illegal fishing by Chinese vessels near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea.

Briefing board on countermeasures against illegal fishing by foreign vessels near the Northern Limit Line in the West Sea. Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Unification, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and the Coast Guard Administration.

On the morning of August 27, the government held a joint briefing at the Government Complex Seoul, where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Unification, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and the Korea Coast Guard announced the "Countermeasures against Illegal Fishing by Foreign Vessels near the West Sea NLL."

This set of measures was drawn up in response to President Lee Jaemyung’s visit to Yeonpyeong Unit in June, when he was briefed on the realities of illegal fishing by Chinese vessels near the NLL and called for countermeasures. At the time, President Lee commented, "We cannot allow this situation to go unattended."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to urge the Chinese government to guide and crack down on its fishing vessels, based on the recently revised Chinese Fisheries Law. The government will also utilize overseas diplomatic missions to raise awareness in China regarding amendments to Korean domestic laws and actual enforcement cases. Last May, Korea revised the Economic Zone Fisheries Sovereignty Act to raise the maximum penalty for illegal fishing from 300 million won to 1.5 billion won.

Cooperation with China will also be strengthened. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries intends to notify the Chinese Coast Guard of illegal fishing activities and call for faithful implementation of the consensus reached in the "Korea-China Joint Fisheries Committee," which requires Chinese authorities to strictly punish violators and report the results.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will supplement the legal basis for enforcement. By revising related laws such as the "Presidential Decree on the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone Act," it plans to support enforcement against ancillary fishing activities within territorial waters, such as berthing, anchoring, and supplying vessel goods. Nam Jin, Director General for Northeast and Central Asian Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, commented on the timing of revisions, saying, "We have started the process of amending relevant laws, and while it is difficult to specify a particular timeline, we will continue to proceed rapidly and efficiently."

In the long term, the Ministry of Unification will promote the creation of a peace zone in the West Sea. The ministry stated, "We will continue to implement effective measures such as the establishment of a peace zone to ensure peace and stable fishing order in the West Sea."

Starting in September, when autumn blue crab fishing season begins in earnest, the government plans to intensify joint enforcement throughout all waters south of the NLL.

As of August 27, there were 76 Chinese vessels near the NLL. Jang Insik, Acting Commissioner of the Korea Coast Guard, stated, "Our goal is to ensure that all 76 vessels leave the area."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.