Taiwan coastguard uses water cannons to warn off mainland Chinese fishing vessel

Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration (CGA) used water cannons to expel a mainland Chinese fishing vessel near Dongsha Island, authorities said on Friday.

The incident occurred on October 1, 27 nautical miles east of the Taiwanese-controlled Dongsha Island, also called Pratas Island, in the South China Sea, the agency revealed.

The CGA’s patrol vessel Yunlin directed its water cannon towards the fishing boat Jin Sha’s wheelhouse for about 90 seconds after initially spraying water into the air for about 30 seconds as a warning, the Administration said in a statement.

The incident coincided with China’s National Day on Thursday. Moreover, the CGA detained two mainland fishing vessels on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, near the Penghu Islands in the Taiwan Strait, and arrested 14 crew members.

On Tuesday, two China Coast Guard vessels reportedly patrolled waters east of Taiwan, as the CCG continues to conduct what it describes as regular patrols in the area amid rising tensions.

09:23

History, money and military: why the South China Sea is so important to Beijing

The Jin Sha, along with another mainland Chinese fishing vessel, the Yue Hui Dong Yu 75066, was spotted anchored about eight nautical miles inside Taiwan’s designated “restricted waters” for mainland vessels, the statement said.

The Jin Sha refused to leave despite three radio warnings, while the other boat departed before the Yunlin used its water cannon to drive the Jin Sha away.

The CGA said the water stream was directed to avoid crew members on deck and the spraying stopped immediately after the Jin Sha started to exit the area. No official injury report was filed.

However, the fishing boat suffered an engine failure and lost power following the intervention. The CGA said the Yunlin provided 35 meals at the fishermen’s request before the disabled vessel was towed outside Taiwan’s restricted waters later on Thursday.

The Jin Sha was subsequently handed over to Chinese work vessel Haiyang Shiyou 681 Friday morning for return transport, it added.

Taipei controls the Dongsha Islands in the northeastern South China Sea, but Beijing also claims them. In a report on September 23, the CGA said it had detained nine mainland Chinese small boats in eight cases in Dongsha waters in 2026.

It also reported a series of encounters with Chinese coastguard vessels near Dongsha, including 12 instances in which Chinese coastguard ships were driven out of the “restricted waters” between January and early September 2026.

Under its regulations regarding relations with mainland China, Taipei designates two types of controlled waters. The “prohibited waters” extend 12 nautical miles from the sea baseline and beyond that, the “restricted waters” extend to 24 nautical miles. Mainland vessels entering these zones without permission may face enforcement measures by Taiwanese authorities.

Beijing does not recognise such restrictions. It sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.