This year, China's waters have been really lively, with the Philippines in the southeast doing things in the South China Sea, and South Korea in the east also starting to do things against China in the waters.
On April 9, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol boarded a South Korean coast guard ship and patrol vessel to conduct inspections. During this period, Yoon Suk-yeol held an emergency meeting on the waters between China and South Korea, which was attended by not only Yoon Suk-yeol, but also the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of South Korea, the South Korean Navy, and other relevant officials.
At the meeting, Yoon Suk-yeol emphasized the "Strike Hard Action against Illegal Fishing of Chinese Fishing Vessels" and asked the Coast Guard not to be soft-hearted when encountering Chinese fishing vessels during inspections, and to directly resort to tough measures to resolutely crack down on Chinese fishing vessels. Yoon Suk-yeol also revealed that if necessary, the South Korean military may be dispatched to enforce the law.
Yoon Suk-yeol pointed out that the previous administration was too weak in its China policy, attached too much importance to friendly development with China, refused to vigorously protect the legitimate interests of its own fishermen, and did not take a "strong" response to the illegal fishing of Chinese fishermen.
Yoon Suk-yeol resented the previous administration's decision to maintain friendly relations with China, and was determined to intensify its crackdown on Chinese fishing boats and resolutely not allow Chinese fishing boats to fish in "South Korean waters." It is foreseeable that the risk factor of fishermen going out to sea in eastern China will skyrocket.
The South Korean Coast Guard committed numerous crimes against Chinese fishing boats, firing hundreds of bullets to kill Chinese
On December 18, 2010, the South Korean Coast Guard deliberately rammed a Chinese fishing boat, killing two Chinese crew members on board.
On March 3, 2011, the South Korean Coast Guard seized a Chinese fishing vessel for "illegal operations" and shot and killed a Chinese crew member while boarding and inspecting the vessel.
On October 10, 2014, the captain of the Chinese fishing vessel Luyingyu 50987 was killed on the spot when the South Korean Coast Guard fired three empty cartridges and eight live ammunition.
On September 29, 2016, the South Korean Coast Guard fired a stun bomb at a Chinese fishing boat, causing the hull to catch fire and killing three Chinese crew members.
On November 1, 2016, South Korean Coast Guards fired M60 machine guns at several Chinese fishing boats, firing more than 600 rounds of ammunition.
On December 20, 2017, the South Korean Coast Police fired more than 200 rounds at 40 Chinese fishing boats with K2 rifles, M-60 machine guns and other guns.
These are examples of fatalities, as well as other cases where there were no deaths but injuries, and incidents in which the South Korean Coast Guard arbitrarily stopped boats and seized fishing boats and crews. If you add it all up, it's a staggering number. You know, according to incomplete statistics, from 2006 to the end of 2011 alone, South Korea privately seized about 2,600 mainland fishing boats and arrested about 800 Chinese fishermen.
It is hard to imagine how many fishermen on the mainland have been bullied by the South Korean coast guard in recent years? More importantly, these crew members have not necessarily entered the territorial waters of South Korea.
For example, in the waters of the Yellow Sea in 2023, South Korea seized a Chinese fishing boat and arrested four Chinese crew members. What's even more outrageous is that the ship did not enter South Korean territorial waters at all. Therefore, the basis for the arrest and boarding of Chinese fishing boats by the South Korean Coast Guard is no longer whether they have entered their territorial waters, but on the basis of their own feelings, wanton arrest and seizure.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the mainland issued a warning that there is a big gap between the strength of the coast guard of China and South Korea
But even so, Yoon Suk-yeol still feels dissatisfied, and he will step up the pressure of the crackdown, as if South Korea will not give up if he does not suppress Chinese fishing boats to the point that he does not dare to go to sea.
In response to South Korea's actions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the mainland has warned more than once that the order of marine fishery production should remain peaceful and stable, and China firmly opposes the use of excessive measures by other countries to suppress it. It is hoped that the ROK side will review its own behavior and properly resolve the relevant issues.
Although the Chinese side has warned many times, judging from Yoon Suk-yeol's attitude this time, he does not intend to solve the problem peacefully, but has a feeling that he wants to strengthen violent law enforcement. If Yin Xiyue goes all the way to the dark, it will pose a huge challenge and threat to mainland fishermen.
In addition to continuing to communicate with the South Korean side, it is also necessary to effectively protect mainland fishing vessels in the Yellow Sea and other waters, otherwise the eastern fishing industry will inevitably be hit hard and the personal safety of fishermen will be threatened.
The gap in strength between the Chinese and South Korean coast guards is not small, and so far the combat effectiveness and scale of the mainland coast guard are much stronger than those of the South Korean coast guard.
It is reported that there are more than 150 coast guard ships of more than 1,000 tons, more than 50 large coast guard ships of more than 3,000 tons, and two coast guard ships of 10,000 tons, all of which have been included in the formation of the China Coast Guard.
As for the South Korean coast guard, the strength is really not enough, 1 6,000-ton coast guard ship, 11 4,000-ton coast guard ships, and more than 20 coast guard ships between 1,000 tons and 3,000 tons.
After all, the scope of law enforcement by the China Coast Guard is not limited to the eastern seas, and the law enforcement pressure in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait is also very high. Therefore, China must seize the time to find a way to resolve South Korea's strike hard order, otherwise the killing and unauthorized detention of Chinese fishing boats and crew members will happen sooner or later.