ROK Special Forces to patrol the Yellow Sea

This article featured in the South China Morning Post, shows us the escalating tensions in the Yellow Sea between South Korea and China can put the region into chaos if the Chinese do not control their fishing fleet. With 3000 Chinese boats fishing illegally in South Korean water per day and more than 475 Chinese boats seized by the South Koreans this year it is only a matter of time before there is another conflict.

Elite troops to patrol fisheries

Seoul outlines tough new measures to crack down on Yellow Sea poaching and protect coastguards after officer killed while boarding Chinese boat

South Korea plans to use armed military Special Forces to spearhead its battle against illegal fishing, officials announced yesterday following the killing of a coastguard officer by a Chinese boat captain. The coastguard was stabbed to death and a second was wounded on December 12 after they boarded a boat in the Yellow Sea's rich fishing grounds.

The death - the second of a coastguard at the hands of Chinese fishermen in less than four years - sparked widespread anger. Seoul urged Beijing to crack down harder on illegal fishing and lawmakers sought tougher punishment of violators.

The prime minister's office announced plans to spend 932 billion won (HK$6.3 billion) between 2012-15 on better equipping its forces as part of a crackdown on poaching. "Firearms that were provided to only two out of the eight crew on a high-speed vessel were given to everyone last Wednesday," said Lim Jong-ryong, the head of the prime minister's office.

Lim said guidelines would be simplified so that officers can use firearms whenever their lives are threatened. Military Special Forces would be recruited to serve on Special Sea Attack Teams and 191 new officers would supplement the 342 men currently on the teams. The office said up to 3,000 Chinese boats fished daily in South Korea's exclusive economic zone from April to May and October to December this year. Some 475 boats were seized so far this year compared with 370 in the whole of last year. When stopped, the crews often fight back with metal pipes and knives or lash their boats together to deter boarders.

The South's 18 high-speed ships patrolling the Yellow Sea are expected to be replaced by faster vessels. The number of larger ships will be increased to 27 from 18. Chinese crews seen as major offenders would have their catches and fishing equipment confiscated, in addition to being fined. The maximum fine will be doubled to 200 million won, and a repeat offender would face an even larger penalty.

In October, the coastguard said it used tear gas and rubber bullets to subdue Chinese fishermen wielding clubs and shovels. Twenty-one Chinese were detained and released after paying a fine.

Twelve months ago, a Chinese boat overturned and sank in the Yellow Sea after ramming a South Korean coastguard vessel. Two Chinese crewmen were killed. Three Chinese detained after that incident were freed following protests from Beijing. The Chinese skipper accused of the latest killing has reportedly admitted the offence and expressed regret. The incident escalated tensions between the two countries.

In Seoul, protestors demonstrated outside the Chinese embassy. The following day in Beijing, someone fired a small ball-bearing-like projectile at the South Korean embassy, damaging a window.