South Korean Coast Guard fired machine guns at two Chinese fishing boats that were illegally fishing in Korean waters on Tuesday. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the incident.

"China is strongly opposed to South Korea's use of force which could endanger the lives of Chinese fishermen. South Korea's official departments, such as the marine police, shouldn't use Chinese fishermen's illegal fishing activities as a reason to fire weapons," said Hua Chunying, spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry

Hua said disputes over illegal fishing have lasted for years, and they take time to solve. China has strengthened its regulations and education for its fisherman. Illegal fishing has been reduced compared to past years. Hua also said China hopes South Korea can strengthen communication with China to deal with maritime problems appropriately.