China Relocates 'West Sea Structure'; Office of the President Welcomes "Meaningful Progress"

Chinese Government Announces "Relocation Based on Chinese Company's Own Needs"
Office of the President: "We Welcome This Step, as the Platform Has Been at the Center of Various Concerns"
"Efforts to Make the West Sea a 'Sea of Peace and Mutual Prosp

The Blue House has welcomed the Chinese government's announcement that it is relocating the "management platform" installed in the West Sea Korea-China Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ), calling it "meaningful progress."

Yonhap News

On the 28th, the Blue House spokesperson's office announced, "The Chinese government stated yesterday that the management platform installed within the PMZ is being relocated by a Chinese company according to its own needs. Our government has consistently opposed the unilateral installation of structures within the PMZ and has continued discussions with China. Since the management platform has been at the center of various concerns, we welcome this measure as meaningful progress."

The office added, "The government will continue efforts to actively protect our maritime rights and interests in the West Sea, while working to make the West Sea a 'peaceful and mutually prosperous sea.'"

The controversy over the West Sea structures arose as China repeatedly installed structures in the West Sea PMZ, where the Korea-China Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) overlap. China installed "Shenlan 1" in 2018 and "Shenlan 2" in 2024 within the PMZ without consultation with Korea, and in 2022, erected a fixed steel structure on the seabed (also referred to as an oil drilling platform).

The Korean government has maintained its opposition to unilateral facility installations within the PMZ and has demanded removal or relocation from China. However, China has continued to assert that these facilities are "aquaculture (fishing) facilities" unrelated to territorial sovereignty.

This issue has also been addressed at the Korea-China summit level. The Blue House stated that during the Beijing summit on the 5th, both sides shared the view of "making the West Sea a peaceful and mutually prosperous sea" and agreed to continue constructive discussions regarding the West Sea structures. It was also mentioned that, since the boundaries in the West Sea have not yet been finalized, efforts will be made to hold an official vice-ministerial meeting on maritime boundary delimitation this year. During a local press conference in Shanghai on the 7th, while on a state visit to China, the President also mentioned that "(China) will relocate the structures," referring to ongoing working-level consultations.

China has emphasized that the decision was made by the company. Chinese authorities have announced that the relocation work will be completed by the 31st (Korea Standard Time) and have issued related safety notices. According to a Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs official, the management facility will be moved outside the PMZ. At a regular briefing on the 27th, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jia-kun stressed that the relocation of the management facility was "an autonomous adjustment made by the company according to its own business and development needs."

He added, "Our position on issues related to fisheries and aquaculture facilities in the South China Sea and Yellow Sea (West Sea) remains unchanged," and explained, "As maritime neighbors, China and Korea have maintained close communication on maritime issues, appropriately managed and controlled differences, and promoted mutually beneficial cooperation." China's explanation appears to caution against interpreting the relocation of the West Sea structure as a direct result of diplomatic negotiations between Korea and China, while also suggesting that both countries are maintaining a consensus on managing related conflicts.