China to remove West Sea structures, Korean president says

President Lee Jae Myung speaks at a luncheon meeting with reporters at a local hotel in Shanghai, Wednesday. Yonhap

SHANGHAI — South Korea and China will seek to clearly divide maritime borders in disputed areas of the West Sea, as conflicts have emerged over large-scale installations there set up by China, President Lee Jae Myung said Wednesday.

China has expressed its intention to partially withdraw them, he said.

Lee made the comments two days after his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where the West Sea structures were on the agenda.

The conflict surrounds structures China deployed in 2022 within the Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ), an area where the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of the two countries overlap in the West Sea, a shallow body of water between China and the Korean Peninsula. While China has claimed the facilities are for marine farming, South Korea has viewed them as infringements of its maritime rights and a part of China’s “gray zone” tactics.

“China’s position is that the facilities are simply aquaculture farms. From our perspective, the issue is why such installations were set up unilaterally by China in the area where the two countries are supposed to jointly manage,” Lee said during a press conference on the last day of his state visit to China.

China says there are two farming facilities and another one managing them, according to Lee. “As to the one for management, China said they would remove it, so it will [be moved],” he said.

To prevent further controversies and conflicts, he said, Seoul proposed a more definitive solution of drawing a "clear middle line" in the PMZ to divide jurisdiction.

“If a line were drawn to clearly divide jurisdiction, it would be the cleanest solution from our standpoint," the president said. "Both sides agreed to pursue working-level talks to remove the underlying causes of the issue."

President Lee Jae Myung responds to questions from reporters during a luncheon meeting at a hotel in Shanghai, China, Wednesday. Yonhap

The president was also asked how he interpreted Xi’s remarks during their summit that countries should “stand on the right side of history.” Lee said he understood the comment in the context of leaders advocating for their respective national interests while respecting each other’s core concerns.

Xi’s remarks raised speculation among Korean critics that Beijing demanded Seoul take its side in its hegemonic rivalry with Washington and supply chain issues, as well as against Tokyo over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan.

“Each country’s core interests and major concerns should, of course, be respected, and South Korea’s core interests must be respected as well,” Lee said.

He said that Korea's pursuit of developing its own nuclear-powered submarines falls under the category of major national concerns that warrant mutual respect. China earlier expressed unease over the project, calling it a security threat.

Lee also stressed that Korea’s relationship with Japan is as important as its ties with China.

President Lee Jae Myung delivers his address at the Korea-China Venture Startup Summit at the Shanghai International Convention Center in Shanghai, Wednesday. Yonhap

Regarding peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, Lee said he held an extended, in-depth discussion with the Chinese leader and asked China to play a mediating role in easing tensions. He said he specifically requested Beijing’s assistance in facilitating dialogue with Pyongyang, citing the absence of communication channels between Seoul and Pyongyang.

“At present, all channels between the two Koreas are cut off. Trust has completely collapsed, and only hostility remains. Although we are making efforts, communication (with Pyongyang) itself is impossible in this fully cut-off situation, which is why I said it would be helpful if China could act as a mediator."

According to Lee, Xi acknowledged Seoul's past efforts and emphasized the need for further patience.

“There has been a long period of buildup of hostility, and for that to ease and for dialogue to restart, it will take a great deal of time and effort,” Lee said. “A role from surrounding countries is also necessary. I made that request to China, and China said it would try to make efforts in that role.”

Lee said South Korea maintains the long-term goal of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, but stressed the need for a phased approach as it is unrealistic for North Korea to give up its entire nuclear arsenal all at once. He added that he asked China to convey Seoul’s sincerity to North Korea.

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a luncheon meeting with reporters at a local hotel in Shanghai, Wednesday. Yonhap

The president also addressed growing negative sentiment between South Koreans and Chinese toward each other, warning that prolonged mutual hostility has caused significant harm to both countries.

“They are close neighbors, bound together in a relationship neither can escape, with enormous potential,” Lee said. “If we exclude or avoid each other, it is to our own detriment. Yet anti-China and anti-Korea sentiments have steadily worsened in both countries over a long period, causing serious harm to both societies.”

Lee added that he urged the Chinese side to swiftly resolve issues that could fuel anti-China sentiment in Korea, such as restrictions on the distribution of Korean cultural content.

“I told the Chinese side that actions that can be perceived as limiting Korean cultural content — such as reduced screenings of Korean films or restrictions on Korean artists' performances — become grounds for criticism,” he said. “Even if they are not official state policies, they occur in practice. If they are not improved, they provide justification for attacks. These issues should be resolved quickly and visibly.”