 However, China and South Korea dispute which is entitled to claim it as part of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).In September 2006, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang () told reporters that China objects to South Korea's "unilateral" activities in the region, referring to Korean science observation facilities on this reef island, which the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman has claimed to be "illegal".However, Chinese reports notes that Qin Gang said the two countries never had a "territorial dispute", not mentioning any islands.