Taiwan must 'bear the consequences' of water cannon incident, China says

China spokesperson Chen Binhua asserted that Taiwan must accept the repercussions of its Coast Guard deploying a water cannon against a Chinese fishing vessel near the Pratas Islands in the South China Sea. The Taiwanese Coast Guard fired the water cannon after the Chinese boat allegedly ignored warnings to leave restricted waters close to the Taiwan-controlled islands.

Subsequently, the Taiwanese vessel encountered engine failure and was towed away by a nearby Chinese ship. Chen emphasized China's "indisputable sovereignty" over the Pratas Islands and surrounding waters. He further claimed that Taiwan's actions were undermining cross-strait relations and that Taiwan must shoulder all consequences arising from this.

However, a Taiwan source indicated that the Coast Guard's actions were a routine law enforcement measure and were carried out in a cautious and proportional manner. The Pratas Islands, situated roughly between southern Taiwan and Hong Kong, are considered vulnerable due to their distance from Taiwan. China has been escalating its military presence in the region over the past five years, and Taiwan rejects China's sovereignty claims.