Socotra Rock

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Socotra Rock and East China Sea continental shelf map. From an official Chinese text.
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Socotra Rock and East China Sea continental shelf map. From an official Chinese text.[1]
Socotra Rock and its distance to Chinese and Korean territories.It is in Chinese and Korean PMZ(Provisional water zone)
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Socotra Rock and its distance to Chinese and Korean territories.It is in Chinese and Korean PMZ(Provisional water zone)

Socotra Rock (32°07′22.63″N, 125°10′56.81″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)[2], 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.[3] 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 Hiajiao Island, China.[3] It is approximately 275 kilometers from the nearest Japanese island, Torishima (鳥島?). The Rock area also include Hupijiao Rock Yajiao Rock, and Dingyan Rock is close by.

Contents

[edit] History

A "Su Rock" is listed in the Chinese ancient book "Shan Hai Jing,"(475 BC ─ 221 BC) and mentioned the rock is in the East China Sea. In Chinese "Yan岩" means rock/hill 山, "Su Rock苏山" equals "Suyan苏岩".[citation needed] However, it is unclear if this refers to Socotra Rock, since the book includes mythological material.

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. The South Korean government has asserted a direct connection between these legends and the modern-day rock, claiming that the traditional saying that "one who sees Parangdo can never return" refers to the danger facing sailors when high waves allow the rock to break the surface.[4][2] Once again, however, no clear link has been demonstrated, and no written records available. Socotra Rock's Korean name was officially designated as "Ieodo" on January 26, 2001 by the Korea Institute of Geology.[5]

  • China's Ming Dynasty nautical book "Shun Feng Xiang Song" records" Ancient Japanese come to China, if they pass by the 'Suyan', it means they are far from Japan and is will see the Grand Tang dynasty soon." The book now is kept in Bodleian Library of Oxford Univ.
  • 1880-1890 Beiyang Fleet of China mapped Socotra Rock.[citation needed]
  • 1900: Socotra Rock was discovered by the British merchant vessel Socotra.[2]
  • 1910: Socotra Rock is surveyed by the British vessel Waterwitch, which measures the depth at less than 5.4 meters.[4]
  • 1938: The Japanese government surveys the rock. Plans are laid for a research station, but these are cut short by the outbreak of World War II.[4]
  • 1951: A joint team of the Republic of Korea Navy and the Korea Mountain Climbing Association (한국산악회) reach the rock and lower a bronze marker bearing the legend "대한민국 영토 이어도" ("Ieodo, Territory of the Republic of Korea") onto its surface.[4]
  • 1952: South Korea promulgated the Syngman Rhee line, which aggressively defined the country's territorial waters as including Socotra Rock, as well as other disputed areas.[6] This was not recognized by the PRC or other neighboring countries.
  • 1963: Yuejin shipwreck: The Chinese vessel "Yuejin" sank on her maiden voyage en route from Qingdao to Nagoya after striking an underwater object. The crew of the ship claimed to have been attacked by a torpedo, causing an international incident. It was later found that due to a navigational error by the crew, the "Yuejin" had actually struck Socotra Rock which was marked on navigational charts at the time.[7]
  • 1963 5.1-6.3，Shanghai Riverway Bureau fleet found the shipwreck 1.5 sea mile southeast of Socotra Rock.[8]
  • 1970: South Korea's Underwater Resource Development Law was enacted, defining Socotra Rock to lie within the country's 4th mining field.[6] This move was not recognized by the PRC.
  • 1984 The rock's location is confirmed by a research team from Cheju National University.[2]
  • 1987: A warning beacon is placed on the rock by South Korea.[4]
  • From 1995 to 2001, the ROK built the Ieodo Ocean Research Station on Socotra Rock despite the PRC objections. Several overflights of the island have since been made by the PRC surveillance aircraft.[3]
  • 2001: the Korea Institute of Geology officially designated the rock as "Ieodo" on January 26, 2001.[5]

[edit] 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 this reef island, while the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman has claimed this kind of activities are "illegal". In Korean news it said "Qin Gang also said that the two countries never had a territorial dispute over the island." [3] On the other hand, in the Chinese version, Qin Gang said the two countries never had a territorial dispute.[9]( no mention of "the island" and Socotra Rock is not an island therefore can't be part of any country's territory.)

Marado:southmost of Korea
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Marado:southmost of Korea

On Marado (126E,33N) island, "southernmost end of Korea", there is a stele carved "the southernmost of Korea". It is also a slogan for local travel attraction. Socotra Rock's location is further south (32°07′22.63″N, 125°10′56.81″E). Marado as a starting point of the Korean marginal sea, affects the Korean EEZ.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes & References

  1. ^ In the continental shelf map, the darker the water is, the deeper it is. Enlarge the map to check the contour line and understand the sea floor.
  2. ^ a b c d 파랑도. Naver Encyclopedia. Retrieved on 2006-09-16.
  3. ^ a b c d "China Chafes at Korean Observatory on Reef Island", Chosun Ilbo, 2006-09-14. Retrieved on 2006-09-14. (in English)
  4. ^ a b c d e (Korean) 이어도 소개 (Ieodo sogae, Introduction to Ieodo. KORDI Ieodo Research Station website (This site might have view points in dispute or original research)). Retrieved on 2006-09-19.
  5. ^ a b (Korean) 제주 남방의 이어도와 EEZ(배타적경제수역)포기 (Jeju nambang-ui ieodo-wa EEZ pogi, Ieodo south of Jeju and the surrender of the EEZ). Dokdo Center website (2004-06-05). Retrieved on 2006-09-22.
  6. ^ a b (Korean) 국제법적인 고찰. Ieodo Research Station website. Retrieved on 2006-09-22.
  7. ^ (Chinese) "Yuejin shipwreck" event. People Daily. Retrieved on 2006-09-23.
  8. ^ (Chinese) Project list. Shanghai Harbor Records. Retrieved on 2006-09-23.
  9. ^ (Chinese) 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.

[edit] External links

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