Socotra Rock
The Socotra Rock is a untermeerisches reef in the East China Sea, to which both South Korea and the People's Republic of China raise territorial claims. Since 1995, the rock of South Korea is managed, which has built on a research station.
His English name was the reef that is 4.6 meters at low water below sea level, according to the ship that it has discovered in 1900. The reef also has Chinese and Korean name; the English name may be used to refer to any position in the Sino- Korean conflict.
- 2.1 Myths and Facts
- 2.2 Current Situation
Geography and topography
Location of the Rock
The rock is located about 149 km south-west of Marado, the southernmost island of South Korea and about 245 km north-east of the island Haijiao the People's Republic of China. From the Japanese island of Torishima it is located about 275 km north-west.
The top of the reef is located in a water depth of about 4.6 meters. This means that the rock is almost always below the water surface. However, he can (eg during a storm ) break in heavy seas.
Environment of the rock
About the rocks by the Korea Maritime Institute for Research and Development ( South Korea) was established a research station since 2001. This has to supply a helicopter landing pad. The research station is in 41 meters of water and is located 700 meters south of the Riffspitze.
History and claims
Myths and Facts
In a Korean legend says that a mythical country exists, where the souls dwell time of seafarers, which remained lost in the sea. This would mean ( in Korea also called Parangdo ) Ieodo. The South Korean government has a direct connection between this mythical land and Socotra Rock pulled. In this recording, the historical claim of North Korea and South Korea- based.
In Chinese history recording Shan Hai Jing, which has been dated to about the year 100 BC, an island name Su- rock is mentioned. In this recording, the historical claim of the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China is based.
However, such claims are not provable.
The first provable discovery of the rock was in 1900 by a British merchant ship name Socotra. To obtain any position in the conflict, so this name is sometimes used to refer to the reef.
At the latest in 1937 took over Japan in the course of its expansion before the Second World War, the administrative sovereignty over the reef.
Current Situation
After the Second World War, Japan was deprived of his administrative authority over its colonies and thus also over the reef by the Allies. Since no further information on the membership of the rock were made, where South Korea and the People's Republic of China in the course of time due to the historical territorial claims affiliation above it.
However, under the Convention on an almost permanently flooded reef no territorial claim and thus be made or establish any extension of the Exclusive Economic Zone. Still trying especially South Korea and the People's Republic of China this reef, which in the overlapping exclusive economic zone of both countries is to make it their territory.
This can be seen from the South Korean side through the inclusion of the reef in 1952 proclaimed Syngman Rhee - line and in the underwater resource settlement law of 1970. Since 2003 South Korea operates over the reef a research station. Since then, it can be said that, despite some reconnaissance on the part of the People's Republic of China, the de facto administration in South Korea is located. The People's Republic of China considers that state, citing the continental shelf principle not acceptable, as the reef is located on a herkommenden from the Chinese mainland continental shelf.
On November 23, 2013 China declared an Air Defense Identification Zone to the East China Sea, including disputed areas such as the Socotra rock or the Senkaku Islands. Each overflight must henceforth be registered in China. The South Korean government subsequently announced to check their own ADIZ also extended to the Socotra Rock.