TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Coast Guard vessel used a water cannon to drive a Chinese fishing boat out of Dongsha Islands waters on Saturday.

The Coast Guard said that while the Taichung and Hsun Hu No. 9 were conducting a patrol, they detected the Yue Shen Shan Yu 11366 illegally entering Taiwan's territorial waters near the Dongsha Islands. The Taichung used water cannons to drive the vessel away. 

The Coast Guard said that Dongsha Atoll National Park is Taiwan’s first marine national park dedicated to protecting marine ecosystems, where all forms of fishing and angling are strictly prohibited. 

Since January, the Coast Guard has driven away 30 Chinese fishing boats in 111 incidents in the Dongsha Islands waters and has seized seven small vessels. The Coast Guard also pointed out that China's annual summer fishing moratorium in the South China Sea began on May 1.

The Coast Guard said the continued presence of Chinese fishing boats indicates a failure in China's maritime management. The Coast Guard urged Beijing to restrain its fishing boats from poaching in Dongsha waters, as such actions damage the marine ecosystem.

The Coast Guard said it has dispatched vessels to be stationed in the area, supported by multi-functional boats from the Dongsha-Nansha Branch to provide round-the-clock protection, monitor the movements of Chinese ships, and defend national sovereignty while ensuring the sustainable development of Dongsha’s marine resources.