Government hit for 'submissive' diplomacy

South Korea releases 3 Chinese fishermen without punishment By Jung Sung-ki The Lee Myung-bak administration is under fire for its “submissive” diplomacy with China over the release of three Chinese fishermen who attacked South Korean coastguards during a fatal clash between a fishing boat and a patrol ship in the West Sea earlier this month. The fishermen were freed and returned home Saturday without punishment. Earlier, Seoul vowed to deal sternly with the men accused of having attacked coastguards with iron pipes, clubs and shovels, injuring four of them. The incident occurred off the western coast as the Coastguard tried to prevent Chinese boats from fishing illegally in Korean waters. Another Chinese trawler intentionally rammed the patrol vessel to allow other fishing boats to sail back into international waters ― but the boat sank after the impact. One fisherman died in the clash. “We decided not to indict the Chinese crew as they were not actively involved in the crime at the time,” a Seoul official was quoted by Yonhap News Agency as saying. “They also fully cooperated in our investigation.” Some coastguards denounced the release of the fishermen. “I could understand that the government freed the fishermen in order not to stir up a diplomatic row,” a coastguard said, asking not to be named. “But we are worried that we will not be able to crack down on illegal fishing activities by Chinese fishermen effectively as the release could set a bad precedent.” Another coastguard official said, “The government should have dealt with this case strictly in accordance with the law.” About 40 Chinese fishing boats are apprehended for illegal fishing every year, according to government data. Chinese vessels appear to be going further afield to feed a growing domestic demand for seafood. China had a bitter diplomatic spat with Japan in September when the latter detained a Chinese fishing captain near contested islands known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. As China pressured Japan hard by employing economic weapons such as the suspension of the supply of rare earth metals, Japan released the captain, inviting harsh criticism from the Japanese public. Relations between China and South Korea are being tested in other issues. In the aftermath of the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island it called for the reopening of the six-party talks on North Korean denuclearization, and also criticized Seoul’s live-fire drills. Beijing also said that Pyongyang has the right to use nuclear power for peaceful purposes. 對중국 ‘굴욕’ 외교 논란 정부가 한국 해경들을 폭행한 중국 선원들을 아무 처벌 없이 신속히 석방함에 따라 중국에 저자세 외교를 취하는 것이 아니냐는 비판이 일고 있다. 정부는 25일 구금되어 있던 네 명의 중국 선원들을 석방. 본국으로 송환했다. 한국 정부는 폭력을 휘두른 중국 선원들을 엄중히 처벌 할 것이라고 공언했으나 공염불이 된 셈이다. 한 정부 관계자는 “해당 중국 선원들이 폭력에 적극 가담하지 않은 것으로 확인돼 석방하게 됐다”며 “중국 선원들은 조사에 적극적으로 협조했다”라고 말했다. 하지만 일부 해경들은 중국선원 조기 석방에 불만을 제기했다. 한 해경은 “정부가 외교 마찰을 피하기 위해 석방을 해 준 것은 일면 이해가 가지만 문제는 이후에 중국 선원들이 우리 영해에서 불법 조업을 했을 때 이번 석방이 선례가 되어 적극적인 제재가 힘들 수 있다”라고 불평했다.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr