Ieodo Int'l Seminar highlights need for practical cooperation amid gray zone threats

Jeju Island — Maritime security specialists convened in Jeju last week for the 10th Ieodo International Seminar to emphasize the necessity of practical collaboration to counter gray zone coercion and thwart potential maritime tensions from deteriorating. The seminar, which convened experts from Korea, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines and Vietnam, convened from Thursday to Saturday to deliberate on the escalating maritime security challenges in East Asia, encompassing China's gray zone actions, maritime disputes, the sway of international law, and the safeguarding of sea lines of communication (SLOC).

The seminar, co-organized by the Jeju-based think tank Society of Ieodo Research and The Korea Times, was convened under the motto “Maritime Security Cooperation Strategies among East Asian Countries: Responding to Intensifying Maritime Security Threats.” In his introductory remarks, Koh Choong-suk, president of the Society of Ieodo Research, underscored how the seminar's 10th iteration encapsulated the escalating international relevance of Ieodo, also recognized as Socotra Rock, and the wider maritime predicaments plaguing the region.

Koh opined, “The significance of Ieodo continues to resonate profoundly in the contemporary global landscape, necessitating robust cooperative endeavors among East Asian nations to effectively navigate the burgeoning maritime security predicaments.”