ANCHOR: South Korea and China have become mired in a diplomatic conflict regarding the jurisdiction over South Korea’s Ieodo Reef. The recent conflict comes as Seoul and Beijing are already facing heightened tensions stemming from illegal fishing by Chinese vessels in Korean waters and China’s forced repatriation of North Korean escapees. Our Bae Joo-yon has more.

REPORT: The director of China’s State Oceanic Administration, Liu Cigui, told Xinhua News Agency on March third that Ieodo Reef is within China’s jurisdiction, renewing China’s claims over the submerged rock formation. He also claimed that the reef is included in the scope of regular patrol activities by Chinese patrol ships and aircraft.

Liu’s remark drew attention as it marked the first time for China to state that Ieodo Reef was included in China’s range of regular patrols.

Following Liu’s statement, the South Korean Foreign Ministry summoned a senior official of China’s Embassy in Seoul on Monday and lodged a protest over the matter.

A ministry official said that the Foreign Ministry made it clear during Monday’s meeting that the South Korean government will have no choice but to take stern countermeasures in the event the Chinese government exercises jurisdiction over Ieodo Reef.

In response, the Chinese Embassy official said that he will convey Seoul’s stance to Beijing. The official then insisted that Ieodo Reef is located within China’s exclusive economic zone and that China has continuously protested South Korea’s construction of a maritime research base on the rock formation.

Ieodo Reef is located 149 kilometers southwest of South Korea’s southernmost island of Mara and 247 kilometers northeast of the Chinese island of Tong.

South Korea and China have been holding negotiations since 1996 to demarcate boundaries of their overlapping exclusive economic zones.

Bae Joo-yon, KBS World Radio News.