Chinese structures installed in the Yellow Sea Joint Fishing Zone were identified with personnel in October 2025. [Photo=Yonhap News]

“We must insist on their demolition.” 

Ahn Cheol-soo, a lawmaker of the People Power Party, stated on Facebook on the 2nd that President Lee Jae-myung must "insist on the demolition of the Yellow Sea structures" during his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on the 5th.

Ahn argued, "This Korea-China summit is not a stage for managing North Korea's affairs or for domestic political events, but a decisive arena to thoroughly defend South Korea's security and national interests. Issues such as the livelihood, North Korea-US dialogue, and inter-Korean relations are extremely secondary matters for this summit."

He asserted, "The important thing is to ensure the demolition of the 16 illegal structures that China has staked out throughout the Yellow Sea, before it's too late."

He also criticized, "Since 2018, China has been unilaterally installing military-style structures in the Yellow Sea, which are merely disguised as aquaculture facilities. This is the same tactic they used to turn the South China Sea and East China Sea into disputed areas and assert their control."

He further stated, "The Lee Jae-myung administration has repeatedly appeased the situation with remarks like 'we are watching,' 'we have conveyed our position,' and 'we are considering proportional responses.' Why is the Lee Jae-myung administration engaging in diplomacy? Diplomacy is not a domestic event to protect presidential approval ratings," he said pointedly.

Following Ahn's remarks, Facebook users commented, "Ahn Cheol-soo has brought up a truly important issue," and "The public expects tangible results from the government in this summit."

Reporter Lim Yo-hee