New ADIZ: Jeju port rises to territorial challenge

[unhappycamper]

http://atimes.com/atimes/Korea/KOR-01-191213.html



Jeju port rises to territorial challenge
By Sung Chan Kim and Seok-ho Kang
Dec 19, '13

Seoul's announcement, 15 days after Beijing declared its own air defense identification zone (ADIZ), that it will expand South Korea's ADIZ suggests that the that country, the People's Republic of China (PRC), and Japan have reached an end to overt diplomatic maneuvers without a clear understanding of how the overlapping zones would be enforced.

As the ADIZs do not translate into territorial or maritime claims, a reasonable agreement could be arranged among the countries to ease heightened tensions. Unfortunately, when it comes to territorial or maritime disputes, agreeing to disagree or ignoring encroachments to one's claims is not a realistic option and tensions could persist. Under the circumstances, the ROK's southernmost naval port under construction on Jeju Island gains significant strategic importance, not only for Seoul, but also for maintaining regional peace and security.

The Jeju Civilian-Military Complex Port, as it is called today, has been planned since 1993 and underwent various changes to become a port that will be used by the Navy and cruise companies. It is designed to be eco-friendly and a significant distance from natural reserves or heritage sites of the island. The port will be able to hold about 20 naval vessels and submarines.

The port's primary purpose is to host the ROK Navy's Maritime Task Flotilla. The flotilla aims to secure the Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC) for ROK shipping traffic and to protect national maritime boundaries. Ieodo (also referred to as Socotra Rock), a submerged rock approximately 170 kilometers southwest of Jeju Island, is one of the southernmost maritime domains the Navy ships will protect. Although Seoul has maintained control over Ieodo and operates a scientific research station at the site, Beijing has laid claims to the area, and now the ADIZs of the ROK, the PRC, and Japan all cover airspace above Ieodo.