Taiwan turns water cannon on Chinese boat; Japan protests Chinese visit to Iturup
Beijing warned Taipei it must "bear the consequences." Tokyo called a Chinese delegation's visit to the disputed Kuril island "completely unacceptable."
Symbolic image · Photo: Voice of America / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain (cropped and resized)
Taiwan's coast guard used a water cannon against a Chinese fishing boat near the Pratas Islands in the South China Sea, The Straits Times and Reuters reported. Chen Binhua, spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said Taiwan must "bear the consequences." Meanwhile, Taiwan's prototype submarine Hai Kun completed its 24th sea trial on Oct. 13, the Taipei Times reported.
Japan protested a Chinese delegation's visit to Iturup, known in Japan as Etorofu, in the Kuril chain. The island is controlled by Russia but claimed by Japan. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told parliament that the visit to the Russian-held island was "completely unacceptable."