S. Korea considering maritime research center, in response to Chinese structures in West Sea

Amid concerns in Seoul over Chinese structures built in disputed waters of the West Sea, Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul has said the government is considering building a maritime research center in the area as a reciprocal measure.

Cho told the parliament on Monday that the country is going through a comprehensive review of factors such as economic feasibility to determine the type of structure they would build.

He added that they will continue to assess the situation while observing how China responds going forward.

From 2018 until last year, China built three structures in the "Provisional Maritime Zone," where the two countries' exclusive economic zones overlap.

China claimed the structures were built for fish-farming, but this led to concerns in Seoul that Beijing could possibly be seeking territorial rights in the area.