"We Must Respond Firmly to the West Sea Provisional Measures Zone Structure"
Called for Bipartisan Action on the Steel Structure Last Month
Han Donghoon, a presidential pre-candidate of the People Power Party, pointed out that "saying 'xiexie' (thank you) to China will not stop the West Sea Project," after additional evidence emerged that the steel structure China installed without authorization in the West Sea Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ?a maritime area where the boundary line has not been finalized) around January this year is in fact an "artificial island" intended to encroach upon territorial waters. This appears to be an indirect criticism of Lee Jaemyung, the presidential pre-candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, who last year, as the leader of the main opposition party during the April 10 general elections, sparked controversy over being pro-China with his "xiexie" remarks.
Hankoon Han, a presidential primary candidate from the People Power Party, arrived at the first round group debate for Group B of the presidential candidates held on the 20th at ASSA Art Hall in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, greeting his supporters. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group
On the 21st, Han wrote on social media, "We must not take lightly the issue of China's unidentified structures in the West Sea," and emphasized, "China has been gradually installing facilities and building artificial islands in the South China Sea, and now openly asserts its sovereignty there. We should recognize that China has already started repeating the same actions in the West Sea." Han continued, "On the surface, everyone may raise their voices against China's structures in the West Sea, but with a 'pro-China submissive diplomatic line,' we cannot defend our sovereignty in the West Sea," adding, "A proactive and resolute proportional response to China's unauthorized structures in the West Sea is needed right now."
In particular, he stated, "Aligning with China in opposition to the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, claiming that 'criticizing China is security populism,' and bowing one's head to a 'minister-level Chinese ambassador'?with Lee Jaemyung's style of fake diplomacy and fake security, which says 'just say xiexie to both China and Taiwan,' we cannot protect the West Sea."
On the 25th of last month, at the 'Urgent Response National Assembly Forum on China's West Sea Project' held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, participants including Kwon Youngse, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, and Na Kyungwon, member of the National Assembly, are performing the national ceremony. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
Furthermore, he said, "To block China's 'West Sea Project' as a matter of order in East Asia, the next president must be someone who fully understands the Asia Priority policy (the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy to contain China) of the Donald Trump administration," adding, "I, Han Donghoon, will make sure to stop the West Sea Project in this way."
Previously, on March 25, before the impeachment of former President Yoon Sukyeol for the "martial law unconstitutional" case, Han wrote on social media, "As pointed out by the RAND Corporation in the United States, China has been carrying out maritime projects for over a decade using 'gray zone' tactics," and expressed concern that "this is why there is a high possibility of them building artificial islands. If things are left as they are, China may insist that the West Sea belongs to them." At that time, he urged Lee Jaemyung, who was then the Democratic Party leader, "Are you just going to say 'xiexie' and let it pass in front of China?" and called for a bipartisan response.
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