China warns Taiwan to "bear the consequences" after coast guard water cannon use near Pratas
China's Taiwan Affairs Office said Taiwan must bear the consequences after its Coast Guard used a water cannon on a Chinese fishing boat near the Pratas Islands. Taiwan says it acted lawfully and proportionately.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2A Chinese government spokesperson said on Wednesday 14 October that Taiwan must "bear the consequences" of its Coast Guard using a water cannon against a Chinese fishing boat near an atoll in the South China Sea. CNAN “Taiwan must "bear the consequences" of its Coast Guard using a water cannon against a Chinese fishing boat near an atoll in the South China Sea” Read at CNA ↗ Arab NewsRC “a Chinese government spokesperson said on Wednesday” Read at Arab News ↗ Centre · 1According to the report, a Taiwan Coast Guard ship fired its water cannon earlier this month, saying the boat had failed to respond to warnings to move away from restricted waters close to the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands. CNAN “saying the boat failed to respond to warnings to move away from restricted waters close to the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands” Read at CNA ↗ Right · 1The ship then suffered engine failure and was towed away by a nearby Chinese vessel, Taiwan's Coast Guard said. Arab NewsRC “The ship then suffered engine failure and was towed away by a nearby Chinese vessel, Taiwan’s Coast Guard said.” Read at Arab News ↗
Centre · 1Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said China has "indisputable sovereignty" over the Pratas and surrounding waters, and that mainland vessels operating there are "entirely legal and justified". CNAN “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.” Read at CNA ↗ Centre · 1Chen accused Taiwan of treating mainland vessels roughly and dangerously, "maliciously stirring up cross-strait confrontation", and said Taiwan must bear all consequences, without elaborating on what they might be. CNAN “maliciously stirring up cross-strait confrontation and they must bear all consequences arising from this", Chen said, without elaborating on the consequences.” Read at CNA ↗ Right · 1A Taiwan official with direct knowledge of the situation told Reuters the Coast Guard carried out "normal law enforcement" and responded in a "very careful and proportionate way". Arab NewsRC “the Coast Guard carried out “normal law enforcement” during the incident and responded in a “very careful and proportionate way.”” Read at Arab News ↗
Right · 1The Pratas Islands, also called the Dongsha Islands, lie roughly between southern Taiwan and Hong Kong, more than 400 km (250 miles) from Taiwan, and security experts see them as vulnerable to Chinese attack. Arab NewsRC “Security experts see them as vulnerable to Chinese attack due to their distance — more than 400 km (250 miles) — from Taiwan.” Read at Arab News ↗ Centre · 1They are a national park with an airstrip but no permanent civilian population, and Taiwan's Coast Guard, not the military, handles their day-to-day security. CNAN “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.” Read at CNA ↗ Right · 1China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its territory, recognises no Taiwanese sovereignty claims including over Pratas, and Chinese coast guard ships have increased patrols there; Taipei rejects China's claim. Arab NewsRC “China recognizes no claims of sovereignty by Taiwan, including over the Pratas Islands, and Chinese coast guard ships have increased patrols.” Read at Arab News ↗
Centre · 1CNA's version adds that Taiwan says China is increasing "grey zone" tactics short of military action; at a Taipei forum, National Security Council deputy secretary-general Lii Wen said China was using more types of ships, including militia boats and research vessels, in "incremental acts of aggression". CNAN “Taiwan says China is increasing its "grey zone" tactics that stop short of outright military action to pressure Taiwan.”“China was using a wider range of ships in its "incremental acts of aggression," including militia boats and research vessels.” Read at CNA ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads with Beijing's warning and sets it beside Taiwan's account; adds Taiwan's concern about Chinese 'grey zone' tactics.
- Emphasis
- Chinese sovereignty claim, Taiwan's 'grey zone' charge and the National Security Council comment.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not say what consequences China has in mind, which no source specified.
- Charged language
- “grey zone”“incremental acts of aggression”
- For example
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“Taiwan says China is increasing its "grey zone" tactics that stop short of outright military action to pressure Taiwan.” — CNA
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Runs Reuters copy leading with China's warning and the sovereignty dispute over Pratas.
- Emphasis
- Chinese statements and Pratas' vulnerability.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Leaves out Taiwan's 'grey zone' framing and the National Security Council remarks carried by CNA.
- Charged language
- “bear the consequences”
- For example
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“China has warned Taiwan to expect repercussions after its Coast Guard used a water cannon on a Chinese fishing boat” — Arab News
What every side reports
- Chen Binhua of China's Taiwan Affairs Office said Taiwan must bear the consequences of the water cannon incident.
- Taiwan's Coast Guard says it fired the water cannon after the boat ignored warnings to leave restricted waters near Pratas.
- A Taiwan official told Reuters the Coast Guard's response was proportionate law enforcement.
- China claims sovereignty over Pratas; Taiwan controls it.
Where accounts differ
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Legitimacy of the Coast Guard's action and of Chinese vessels in the waters
- Centre
- Reports China's claim that its vessels are legal and Taiwan acted dangerously, and Taiwan's account of normal, proportionate enforcement; adds Taiwan's 'grey zone' charge.
- Right
- Same two accounts as the Reuters copy: Chinese vessels 'entirely legal and justified' versus Taiwan's 'normal law enforcement'.
China place
Says it has indisputable sovereignty over Pratas, its vessels are legal, and Taiwan must bear the consequences.
“said China has "indisputable sovereignty" over the Pratas and surrounding waters.” — CNA
Taiwan Coast Guard organisation
Says it warned the boat to leave restricted waters and acted proportionately in normal law enforcement.
“responded in a “very careful and proportionate way.”” — Arab News
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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CNAN ·
Taiwan must 'bear the consequences' of water cannon incident, China says
Neutral Largely the same report, adding Taiwan's grey zone concerns.
Right1 article
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Arab NewsRC · · via Reuters
Taiwan must ‘bear the consequences’ of water cannon incident, China says
Neutral Reuters copy via Arab News led by China's warning, with Taiwan's official response.
- 14 Oct 04:43 First Arab NewsRC Taiwan must ‘bear the consequences’ of water cannon incident, China says via Reuters
- 14 Oct 05:33 +49m CNAN Taiwan must 'bear the consequences' of water cannon incident, China says
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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