Taiwan coastguard uses water cannons against Chinese fishing vessel

Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration deployed water cannons to deter a mainland Chinese fishing vessel operating near Dongsha Island. Authorities reported expelling two Chinese boats from waters controlled by Taiwan. Separately, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurred off the island's eastern coast, and a patrol vessel donated by Taiwan was commissioned into the Philippine Coast Guard.

These maritime incidents occur against a backdrop of heightened cross-strait tensions. The commissioning of the patrol vessel into the Philippine fleet underscores Taiwan's efforts to bolster regional maritime security partnerships. The earthquake serves as a stark reminder of the island's geological vulnerability.