Beijing Warns Taiwan of Consequences Following South China Sea Water Cannon Incident

POLICY WIRE — Taipei, Taiwan — A Chinese government spokesperson issued a stern warning on Wednesday, declaring that Taiwan must bear the consequences following an incident where the Taiwanese Coast Guard deployed a water cannon against a Chinese fishing vessel near a South China Sea atoll.

The confrontation occurred on Thursday, October 1, when the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration (CGA) utilized a water cannon after a Chinese fishing boat ignored directives to vacate restricted waters surrounding the Taipei-controlled Dongsha Islands. While a second vessel complied and departed the area, the first boat remained, prompting the forceful response.

Chen, a spokesperson for Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, condemned the action, stating that the treatment of mainland vessels in a dangerous manner that threatens the lives and property of personnel is maliciously stirring up cross-strait confrontation. The official added that Taiwan must bear all consequences arising from this, though no specific details regarding those potential repercussions were provided.

Video footage of the encounter, which circulated on the social media platform X via the account Zuotian on October 2, shows the CGA vessel engaging the Chinese boat. The incident, which reportedly took place 27 nautical miles east of Dongsha Island, resulted in visible damage to the upper deck of the Chinese vessel. During the operation, a CGA crew member was observed boarding the Chinese boat to secure it.

The Dongsha Islands, also known as the Pratas Islands, are situated in the northern reaches of the South China Sea and remain under the effective control of Taiwan. The region has become a focal point for maritime friction, with the CGA maintaining that the Chinese vessels had encroached within 8 nautical miles of the main islands before the intervention took place.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)