Overview

• China has installed two Shenlan steel structures and a fixed platform with a helipad in the Korea-China Provisional Measures Zone since 2018, breaching a 2001 bilateral agreement prohibiting such construction.
• Beijing claims the structures are salmon farms and has announced plans to construct 12 additional installations in the disputed area.
• Korea's February inspection attempt was blocked by China, leading to a two-hour maritime standoff involving a Korean research ship and Coast Guard vessel.
• Lawmakers from Korea's People Power Party and Democratic Party have united in advocating for a proportionate response, including constructing Korean facilities in the zone.
• Observers warn that the scale and design of China's structures suggest potential strategic motives tied to future territorial claims.