China fisherman dies in clash with S Korea coast guard

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

The clash reportedly happened as the coast guards tried to prevent Chinese boats from fishing illegally off South Korea's west coast.
...
About 50 Chinese fishing boats were in waters off the South Korean city of Gunsan at the time of the clash, coast guard spokesman Ji Kwan-tae said, according to the Associated Press.

Mr Ji said one of the boats intentionally struck the patrol ship to try to allow the others to sail back into their waters - but the boat sank after the impact.

At least eight men were rescued from the sea, but one later died.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12026765

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Well, this will help the North Korea/South Korea tensions, won't it? :scared:

[MH1]

1. I don't see how it should have much of an impact

it sounds like the fisherman was stupid and the Koreans did try to rescue him.

China has not been real happy with N Korea lately. I doubt they would try to stretch this into any pretext in that conflict. Then again, if they are really desperate to expand their fishing grounds, maybe they will ... but it will be to advance China's direct interests, not out of really wanting to help N. Korea.

[Creative]

3. I hope you are right. Nevertheless, this is an unfortunate occurrence.

[David__77]

4. I don't understand the assessment.

Do you really think that China favors S. Korea over N. Korea? There is no basis for such thinking. Read China Ministry of Foreign Affairs statements, Xinhua reporting, CPC documents - everything points to the opposite. China's leaders actually internally praise N. Korea for maintaining "social stability."

S. Korea is in its rights to militarily enforce its commercial interests within its waters, but it would be smart to expend extra resources on ensuring blood isn't spilled with China. China has a benign neutrality to S. Korea much of the time, and I hope the S. Korean right-wingers who are in power now don't mess with that.

[soryang]

2. Very Confucian confrontation n/t