00:19A tense encounter is unfolding near one of Taiwan's remote South China Sea outposts.
00:25Taiwan's Coast Guard says it used water cannons to drive away a mainland Chinese fishing vessel near Dongsha Island.
00:34And the incident comes as encounters between Taiwanese and Chinese vessels continue to increase around the disputed waters.
00:43The confrontation happened on October 1st, about 27 nautical miles east of Taiwan-controlled Dongsha Island, also known as Prada's
00:53Island.
00:54According to Taiwan's Coast Guard administration, its patrol vessel Yunlin spotted two mainland Chinese fishing boats anchored inside Taiwan's designated
01:05restricted waters.
01:06One of them, the Jinxha, reportedly refused to leave, even after three radio warnings.
01:14That is when the confrontation escalated.
01:17The Yunlin first sprayed water into the air for around 30 seconds as a warning.
01:23But when the fishing vessel still did not depart, the Taiwanese patrol ship directed its water cannon toward the Jinxha's
01:31wheelhouse for around 90 seconds.
01:33Taiwan says the water stream was deliberately aimed to avoid crew members standing on deck.
01:40And once the fishing boat began moving out of the restricted area, the water cannon was stopped.
01:45But the incident did not end there.
01:48Taiwan's Coast Guard says the Jinxha suckered an engine failure and lost power following the intervention.
01:55The Taiwanese vessel then provided 35 meals at the fisherman's request before the disabled boat was towed outside Taiwan's restricted
02:04waters.
02:05The vessel was later handed over to a Chinese work vessel for transport back.
02:11So what exactly are these restricted waters?
02:14Taiwan says it designates two controlled maritime zones around its territory.
02:19The first is a prohibited zone, extending 12 nautical miles from the baseline.
02:25Beyond that is a restricted zone, extending up to 24 nautical miles.
02:30Taipei says mainland Chinese vessels cannot enter these areas without permission and can face enforcement measures if they do.
02:39But Beijing does not recognize these restrictions.
02:42And that disagreement is at the heart of the confrontation.
02:46The latest incident also comes amid a wider series of encounters around Dongsha.
02:52Taiwan's Coast Guard says it detained nine mainland Chinese small boats in eight separate cases in Dongsha waters during 2026.
03:02It has also reported 12 encounters with Chinese Coast Guard vessels that Taiwan says were driven out of its restricted
03:09waters between January and early September.
03:12There have been other developments as well.
03:14Taiwan says it detained two mainland fishing vessels near the Penghu Islands on Wednesday and Thursday, arresting 14 crew members.
03:24And on Tuesday, Chinese Coast Guard vessels were reportedly seen patrolling waters east of Taiwan.
03:31Beijing describes such patrols as regular operations.
03:35Taipei, meanwhile, continues to enforce its own maritime restrictions.
03:39The latest water cannon incident therefore adds another episode to an already tense pattern of maritime encounters.
03:48For now, Taiwan says its crew avoided direct physical contact with the fishermen and stopped the water spray once the
03:55vessel began leaving.
03:56But the broader dispute remains unresolved.
04:00Because Taiwan controls Dongsha Island, while Beijing also claims the territory and rejects Taiwan's maritime restrictions.
04:08And with Coast Guard vessels and fishing boats continuing to operate in close proximity,
04:13even a water cannon warning can carry much larger political and security implications.
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