Chinese vessels caught violating S. Korean waters 133 times in past 5 years: report

SEOUL, Sept. 19 (Yonhap) -- Chinese boats have been caught violating South Korean waters 133 times in the past five years, a report showed Monday. The data, submitted by the foreign ministry to Rep. Ahn Sang-soo of the ruling Grand National Party, showed that 17 of these cases involved violence against South Korean Coast Guard officers. Clashes between Chinese fishermen and the Coast Guard are known to be frequent, with one officer losing his life during a crackdown several years ago. By year, there were 24 violations in 2007, 12 in 2008, 23 in 2009, 53 in 2010, and 21 this year. The data were submitted for the annual parliamentary audit, which is currently under way. "We are demanding that Chinese crackdowns be strengthened in order to root out all illegal fishing by Chinese boats," a foreign ministry official said.