Taiwan water-cannons Chinese boat, then serves crew hot meals

An unusual incident unfolded this week near the Pratas Islands in the South China Sea when Taiwan's coast guard used a water cannon to drive off a Chinese fishing boat that entered restricted waters and refused to leave. But what happened next took an unexpected turn.

The Taiwanese coast guard spotted two Chinese fishing vessels in the area, roughly 27 nautical miles east of Pratas Island, known in Taiwan as Dongsha. Both boats were ordered to leave the zone. One complied and moved away, but the second vessel, named "Jin She," refused to depart despite three repeated radio warnings.

The Taiwanese coast guard ship "Yunlin" approached the Chinese boat. The crew first activated the water cannon for approximately 30 seconds from a distance of about 200 meters, but the Chinese crew did not leave. The Taiwanese ship then moved closer and fired the water cannon a second time, this time for roughly 90 seconds and aimed directly at the Chinese vessel.

Taiwanese authorities explained that the water cannon was deployed to drive the boat away in accordance with coast guard protocols, and that it is a low-lethality tool used to enforce the law in waters under Taiwanese control.

90 seconds of Taiwanese fury: water cannon disables Chinese vessel (Photo: Social media)

After the confrontation, the Chinese vessel lost engine power and was left unable to continue on its own. Rather than leave the crew to deal with the breakdown alone, the Taiwanese coast guard responded to their request and supplied them with 35 hot meals.

The "Yunlin" then towed the Chinese boat out of the restricted zone. Once the vessel was removed from the area, it was handed over to a Chinese ship that arrived to continue the tow.

The Taiwanese coast guard emphasized after the incident that it sees no contradiction between enforcing borders and providing humanitarian assistance. Taiwan said it will continue to drive off Chinese fishing boats that enter prohibited waters, while at the same time offering aid when vessel crews find themselves in distress.

The Pratas Islands are under Taiwanese control, but China claims sovereignty over them. The area has become another point of friction between Taiwan and China, with Chinese vessels appearing in the zone with increasing frequency.