End China’s illegal fishing

The Korea Times: President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday lashed out at Chinese fishermen engaged in illegal fishing in Korea’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Sea, calling the practice “really bad” and warranting harsher action by the Korea Coast Guard.

Speaking at a policy briefing at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in Busan, Lee ordered the Coast Guard to take unprecedentedly tough measures during crackdowns on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

“I told you last time to seize as many Chinese vessels engaged in illegal fishing in the West Sea as possible. How did that go?” Lee asked Jang In-sik, the acting commissioner general of the Korea Coast Guard. Jang replied that 56 Chinese vessels have been seized so far.

Lee then instructed the Coast Guard to take all possible measures to combat China’s illegal fishing.

“Chinese fishermen are said to raise money among themselves to help colleagues who have been caught by the Korea Coast Guard pay fines imposed by the Korean government,” Lee said. “We should consider raising the fines to a level that cannot be covered by the money collected from fishermen on 10 Chinese vessels. It is essential to set an example that those caught engaging in illegal fishing in Korean waters will face devastating financial penalties.”

Once such a perception is firmly established, Lee said, IUU fishing would decline.

He cited Indonesia’s response to illegal fishing as a reference point. Indonesia, Lee said, saw a sharp drop in foreign illegal fishing after its navy took forceful action against foreign vessels operating illegally in its waters. “Obviously, we won’t do that,” Lee added. “But the Indonesian case shows the importance of overwhelming measures to deter illegal fishing by foreign vessels.”

Lee’s strong remarks on Chinese illegal fishing surprised some critics. He has previously been accused of being pro-China and of turning a deaf ear to calls for a tougher stance against Beijing.

As Lee suggested, issues related to national sovereignty are not matters on which a country’s leader can afford to remain silent.

The problems associated with IUU fishing are twofold. First, it poses a direct threat to the livelihoods of Korean fishermen and their families. Hundreds of Chinese fishing vessels appear in waters near the Northern Limit Line whenever peak fishing seasons draw near— spring, from April to June, and autumn, from September to November.

This year alone, the daily average number of Chinese vessels engaged in illegal fishing near the maritime border has ranged between 130 and 233. Such activities have depleted fish stocks, leaving Korean fishermen to face the consequences.

Second, China’s illegal fishing has evolved into a serious diplomatic issue. The EEZ, which extends from 12 to 200 nautical miles from a country’s coastline, is an area where a state exercises sovereign rights over economic activities, including fishing. Illegal operations by Chinese vessels directly undermine Korea’s sovereign rights within its EEZ.

The Korea Coast Guard has launched large-scale crackdowns during peak fishing seasons. In response, some Chinese fishermen have acted defiantly and violently, erecting dangerous steel structures to prevent Coast Guard officers from boarding their vessels. Several Coast Guard members have been injured, and some have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Chinese vessels’ IUU fishing constitutes a denial of Korea’s sovereign rights. This is unacceptable.

As head of state, Lee is expected to take a firm stance against such violations. In this context, his strong remarks on China’s involvement in IUU fishing are a natural response. No Korean leader can afford to remain passive when the nation’s sovereign rights are being infringed upon by foreign actors.

Lee has described his foreign policy approach as “practical diplomacy.” It remains unclear how he defines the term or how it will shape his administration’s China policy. One principle, however, should be beyond dispute: Korea’s sovereign rights must come first under any circumstances. When those rights are undermined, the president must speak out.

Lee’s blunt characterization of China’s illegal fishing and the unruly behavior of some Chinese fishermen may sound direct. But it is welcome insofar as it reflects a clear determination to protect the nation and defend its sovereign rights.