By Park Si-soo
President Lee Myung-bak ordered Cabinet ministers Tuesday to take “strong measures” against China’s illegal fishing in Korean waters. He also said the government “must” come up with fundamental measures to crack down on Chinese trawlers that are increasingly poaching off the coast here.
The remarks came one day after a coastguard was stabbed to death by the captain of a 66-ton Chinese boat illegally fishing in Korea’s Exclusive Economic Zone ― the second such fatality in less than four years. Another coastguard sustained critical injuries during an operation to seize the vessel.
“Even if we draw up a special initiative, we must come up with strong countermeasures to prevent this tragedy from happening again by building up the Korea Coast Guard’s equipment and personnel,” Lee told the Cabinet meeting, according to his spokesman Park Jeong-ha.
Lee also called for relevant ministries to establish “fundamental” and “diplomatic” measures to crack down on Chinese fishing vessels that are increasingly poaching in Korean waters, Park said.
Hours after the remarks, China expressed its regret for the incident and reaffirmed its cooperation in Korea’s investigation.
It came amid surging public outrage toward the neighboring country that was touched off by its first reaction to the case on Monday without any apologetic gesture.
“The Chinese side regrets that the relevant incident caused the death of an ROK coastguard officer, which is an unfortunate event,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said at a daily media briefing.
Asked whether China would compensate the dead officer’s family, Liu said the Chinese government is working with Korea “to investigate and verify the situation.” He said China is ready “to settle relevant issues.”
Earlier in the day, a presidential aide said the incident may have a “negative” impact on Lee’s planned visit to China.
“The way the situation develops could affect President Lee’s visit to China,” the aide said on condition of anonymity. “The incident is a matter that should be dealt with in a calm but decisive manner.”
Seoul’s foreign ministry repeatedly urged China to offer an official apology for the killing and demanded Beijing take “acceptable” measures to prevent the recurrence of such an incident.
“The government is calling on the Chinese government to take measures that would be acceptable to our people,” said the ministry’s spokesman Cho Byung-jae in a regular news briefing. “Acceptable measures would include an official apology from Beijing.”
Cho said Korea will sternly deal with the Chinese fishermen under the “principle of law and order.”
Seoul also plans to set up a regular consultative body with China to crack down on illegal fishing by Chinese boats in Korean waters, Cho said.
Police said the suspect in the killing is expected to be charged with homicide ― the other eight crewmembers will face charges of obstructing coastguards conducting their official duty, they said.
Meanwhile, the government has decided to get tougher on China’s illegal fishing while seeking harsher punishment for violators. It will drastically upgrade the equipment of the Korea Coast Guard and deploy more manpower for safer operations against illegal fishing, according to Yim Jong-yong, a minister at the Prime Minister’s Office
Yim said the government will comprehensively revise coastguards’ code of conduct in a way that will ensure their safety during risky operations.
He added the Prime Minister’s Office will produce concrete countermeasures as soon as possible in cooperation with relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
In a bipartisan move, politicians called on China to offer an official apology.
Rep. Hwang Young-cheol, floor leader of the ruling Grand National Party, said the Chinese government should send a “condolence delegation and deliver polite words of condolence to the family of the deceased."
The main opposition Democratic Party’s floor leader, Rep. Kim Jin-pyo, urged the Korean government to come up with countermeasures to ensure the safety of coastguards in action.
About 300 conservative activists staged an angry protest in front of the Chinese embassy in Seoul.
Minor shoving matches with riot police erupted as some of the protesters hurled eggs at the embassy building and tried to burn the Chinese flag. There were no reports of injuries.