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

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said Taiwan must “bear the consequences” after a Taiwan Coast Guard water cannon incident near the Pratas Islands in the South China Sea, according to a Wednesday statement in Beijing. China’s Chen Binhua said China has “indisputable sovereignty” over the area and that mainland vessels operating there are “legal and justified,” adding it will safeguard the lives and property of its people. Taiwan said its coast guard fired the water cannon because a Chinese fishing boat did not respond to warnings and then suffered engine failure and was towed away. Taiwan also reported higher military activity, including a “joint combat readiness patrol” with 13 aircraft and J-16 fighters.