South Korea’s Strong Actions to Safeguard Its Waters Against China’s ‘Maritime Militia’
President Yoon emphasized that even North Korea is responding strongly to illegal Chinese fishing boats.
Chinese fishing fleets have been conducting illegal fishing activities to support the Chinese Navy and Coast Guard in asserting dominance over maritime territories and resources. China has been engaging in illegal fishing in disputed waters with South Korea. Recently, President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea called for a strong response from the Korea Coast Guard to protect the country’s national security.
On April 9, President Yoon visited one of the Korea Coast Guard’s patrol ships in Incheon to assess the situation of illegal activities by Chinese fishing boats during the peak crabbing season.
In a press release, his office stated, “The president emphasized the need to address the issue of illegal operations by Chinese fishing vessels from the perspective of safeguarding our marine resources.”
President Yoon highlighted that despite North Korea’s military alliance with China, even they are taking strong actions against illegal Chinese fishing boats. Therefore, the South Korean government is dedicated to protecting its territorial waters and the livelihoods of its fishermen.
Violent Response
During crackdowns by the Korea Coast Guard, illegal Chinese fishing boats frequently resist violently. This has led to multiple violent clashes resulting in casualties among the Korea Coast Guard personnel. Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye authorized the use of artillery fire against violent Chinese fishing boats in 2016, which led to a decrease in illegal fishing activities until 2019. However, in recent years, there has been a resurgence in such illegal activities.
President Yoon expressed his expectation that the Korea Coast Guard would prioritize citizen safety and national interests over any political considerations when handling such situations to avoid repercussions from China.
Crackdowns
Towards the end of March, South Korea’s Coast Guard, Navy, and Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries conducted joint patrols in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) around Jeju Island. As a result, five illegal Chinese fishing boats were seized, one was confiscated, one Chinese captain was detained, five crew members were deported, and another 58 illegal fishing boats were turned away.
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The Korea Coast Guard reported that in March, over 300 illegal Chinese fishing boats were operating in South Korean waters daily on average. However, during the crackdown period, the average decreased to over 140 per day.
South Korea is concerned that under the influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Chinese fishing vessels continue to illegally exploit maritime resources while employing a “gray zone tactic” to gradually assert control over the Yellow Sea as Chinese territory.
The concept of “gray zone tactics” involves strategies that fall between armed conflict and peace. Essentially, it uses provocative but non-military methods to achieve political objectives.
In 2013, the CCP unilaterally set the maritime boundary line between the two nations and demanded that the South Korean Navy not cross it, a demand that South Korea rejected.
The maritime boundary set by China included more than 70 percent of the Yellow Sea within Chinese waters, a situation that South Korea strongly opposes.
‘Maritime Militia’
Last year, while serving as a member of South Korea’s National Assembly, South Korean Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik indicated that illegal Chinese fishing activities are not only depleting South Korean marine resources but also employing a gray zone tactic to aggressively claim disputed waters. He referred to these illegal fishing boats as China’s “maritime militia,” operating alongside the China Coast Guard.
The “maritime militia” can be categorized into two groups: a large number of regular fishing fleets that occasionally work for the Chinese Navy, and full-time maritime militia with superior equipment and professionalism, capable of directly carrying out missions. They act as the forefront of the naval auxiliary fleet without focusing on fishing.
Chinese state media has disclosed the operational methods of the regime’s maritime militia. An article from China’s web news portal NetEase in 2018 highlighted that while China’s maritime militia is not part of the Chinese Navy, it plays a crucial role. Despite being fishermen in appearance, they undergo various military training and are equipped with advanced gear. They collaborate with the China Coast Guard to monitor and report ship positions, collect maritime intelligence, and provide reinforcement support on the front lines.
