Editorial: S. Korean lawmakers’ silence on China’s Yellow Sea structures raises sovereignty concerns

Members of the Korean Veterans Association hold a press conference in front of the Seoul Central Post Office in Jung-gu, Seoul, on April 30, calling for the immediate removal of China's unauthorized artificial structures in the Yellow Sea. /Yonhap News

On July 3, South Korea’s National Assembly adopted a resolution condemning China’s unauthorized installation of structures in the Yellow Sea. Although introduced by a member of the People Power Party (PPP), the motion won overwhelming bipartisan backing, with 252 out of 259 lawmakers voting in favor—a rare display of political unity reflecting the gravity of the issue. Still, three lawmakers from the Democratic Party (DP), one from the Rebuilding Korea Party, and all three lawmakers from the Progressive Party abstained from the vote. No debate preceded the resolution, and the abstaining lawmakers offered no explanation for their decision.

Since 2018, China has erected large steel structures in the South Korea–China Provisional Measures Zone of the Yellow Sea, describing them as “aquaculture facilities.” However, under the bilateral fisheries agreement between the two countries, non-fishing activities such as resource development and facility installation are strictly prohibited in this area. Of the three structures now in place, two are floating platforms, and the other is a fixed structure converted from an oil rig. When a South Korean ocean research vessel attempted to approach the site, Chinese maritime police intervened and blocked the investigation. A recent report by a U.S. think tank suggested the facilities may already be capable of collecting underwater navigation and detection data—raising concerns they may be used for submarine surveillance.

China’s actions have escalated in recent months. In May, it declared part of the area a no-sail zone and deployed its new aircraft carrier for maritime exercises. These moves appear aimed at asserting de facto control over the Yellow Sea and countering the joint military posture of South Korea and the United States. If left unchallenged, such maneuvers could pose significant threats to South Korea’s fishing rights, freedom of navigation, and territorial sovereignty.

The National Assembly’s resolution denounces the illegal nature of the structures and calls on the South Korean government to expand its maritime research activities. It also urges a response based on the principle of reciprocity and pledges legislative support for appropriate countermeasures. This is not a partisan issue—it is a matter of national sovereignty. Lawmakers elected by the public have a responsibility to clearly state their position, particularly when abstaining from a resolution of such importance.

The DP and the Rebuilding Korea Party have remained silent on their reasons for abstaining. The Progressive Party stated that “escalating conflict is not a solution and diplomacy should be pursued instead.” Yet the resolution itself contains no language that could be construed as provocative, and it is China—not South Korea—that initiated the current standoff.

If a similar incident had involved Japan, it is not difficult to imagine how these same seven lawmakers might have responded. China, for its part, is likely to interpret their abstentions as tacit approval to proceed with even more aggressive actions.