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

Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs ⁠Office in Beijing, said China has "indisputable sovereignty" over the Pratas and surrounding waters. "Mainland ​vessels operating in the relevant waters are entirely legal and justified. We will ​resolutely safeguard the lives and property of our people," Chen said.

Taiwan's "treatment of mainland vessels roughly in a dangerous manner that endangers the lives and property of the personnel involved is maliciously ​stirring up cross-strait confrontation and they must bear all consequences arising from ​this," Chen said, without elaborating on the consequences.

A Taiwan official with direct knowledge of the situation ‌around ⁠the Pratas Guard carried out "normal law enforcement" during the incident and responded in a "very careful and proportionate way". The Pratas Islands lie roughly between southern Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Security experts see them as vulnerable to ​Chinese attack due ​to their distance — ⁠more than 400 km (250 miles) — from Taiwan. China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has increased its military ​presence around the island over the past five years.

The ​government in ⁠Taipei rejects China's claim. China recognises no claims of sovereignty by Taiwan, including over the Pratas Islands, and Chinese coast guard ships have increased patrols. Taiwan's Coast Guard is ⁠in charge ​of day-to-day security for Pratas rather than the ​military.

The Pratas Islands are a national park. They have an airstrip but no permanent civilian population.