Socotra Rock
Socotra Rock (32°07′22.63″N 125°10′56.81″E / 32.1229528°N 125.1824472°E) is a submerged rock 4.6 meters below sea level (at low tide) located in the East China Sea. The rock is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Korea, which considers it to lie within its exclusive economic zone, referring to it as Ieodo (이어도/離於島) or Parangdo(波浪島,파랑도)[1], and the People's Republic of China which refers to it as Suyan Rock (苏岩礁) and does not recognize the Korean claim. The rock currently serves as the foundation for the Korean Ieodo Ocean Research Station.[2] A helipad is also located there to allow the research station to be serviced.
The rock is located 149 km southwest of Marado, Korea and 245 km northeast of Tong Island, China.[2] It is approximately 275 kilometers from the nearest Japanese island, Torishima (鳥島).
The continental shelf map showes the rock's location, and tells which side of continental shelf it sits on.[3]
History
A "Su Rock" is listed in the Chinese ancient book "Shan Hai Jing,"(475 BC──221 BC) and is said to lie in the east sea. [4] [1]
Socotra Rock was discovered in 1900 by the British vessel Socotra.
[1963] [Yuejin shipwreck]1963.5.1 Chinese first made 10,000 tons ship "Yuejin" is on the way from Qingdao to Nagoya. Just like Titanic,shipwreck happened on her virgin voyage. The ship claims being attacked by topedo, it soon become internatinal event. In fact,although by that time, the map already marked the Suyan Rock(Socortra Rock), but the crew mis-caculated the location of the ship, "Yuejin" hit on the Rock.[2]
[1984] The rock is not confirmed by Korea untill in 1984 Cheju Univ did a research.
It lies within the controversial "Syngman Rhee line" which South Korea announced to define its territorial waters in 1952[citation needed] . The ROK's Underwater Resource Development Law enacted in 1970 also defined Socotra Rock to lie within the ROK's 4th mining field.[citation needed] However because of the overlapping of the two countries EEZs, these moves were not recognized by the PRC.
From 1995 to 2001, the ROK built the Ieodo Ocean Research Station on Socotra Rock despite PRC objections. Several overflights of the island have since been made by PRC surveillance aircraft.[2]
Socotra Rock's Korean name was officially designated as Ieodo in January 26 2001 by the Korea Institute of Geology.[citation needed] Both "Parangdo" and "Ieodo" are names for the mythical island residents of Jeju island believed to house the spirits of fishermen who perished at sea.[5]
Dispute
According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, a submerged reef can not be claimed as territory by any country. However, the PRC and South Korea dispute which is entitled to claim it as part of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). If the rock lies within the Chinese EEZ, then South Korea's construction activities there would have been in breach of Article 60 of the Convention on the Law of the Sea.
In September 2006, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters that China objects to Korea's "unilateral" activities in the region. The Korean government has built observation facilities on the island. While the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman has claimed that Korea "illegally" built the facilities on the island. In Korean news it said "Qin Gang also said that the two countries never had a territorial dispute over the island." [2] On the other hand, in the Chinese version, Qin Gang said the two countries never had a territorial dispute.[6]( no mention of "the island" and Socotra Rock is not an island.) Thus, it is unclear whether or not China is claiming the island to be Chinese.
On Marado(126E,33N) island,"southmost end for Korea", there is an ancient stele carved "the southmost of Korea." It is also a slogan for local travel attraction. Socotra Rock location is futher south (32°07′22.63″N, 125°10′56.81″E). Marado as a starting point of Korean marginal sea, affects the Korean EEZ.
See also
- Foreign relations of South Korea
- Foreign relations of the People's Republic of China
- Dokdo
- United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
- Rockall
- Marado
Notes & References
- ^ a b c d "China Chafes at Korean Observatory on Reef Island". Chosun Ilbo. 2006-09-14. Retrieved 2006-09-14.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) Cite error: The named reference "chosun" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page). - ^ Template:In the continental shelf map, the darker the water is, the deeper it is.enlarge the map to check details
- ^ Template:Zh icon "Shan Hai Jin 14th charpter (mentioned "Su Rock" in East Sea)". Retrieved 2006-09-19.
- ^ Template:Ko icon "이어도 소개 (Ieodo sogae, Introduction to Ieodo". KORDI Ieodo Research Station website). Retrieved 2006-09-19.
- ^ Template:Zh icon 中国反对韩国在苏岩礁海洋观测活动(China objects Korean Observatory on Reef Island)Phenix TV Retrieved on 2006-09-19.