China warned Taiwan on Wednesday that it would face consequences after Taiwanese Coast Guard personnel used a water cannon against a Chinese fishing vessel near the disputed Pratas Islands, as Beijing conducted separate military exercises around Taiwan and in the Western Pacific.

Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, accused Taiwanese authorities of endangering Chinese citizens and deliberately escalating tensions. He said Beijing would defend the rights and safety of Chinese vessels operating in the area but did not specify what retaliatory measures China might take.

The warning follows an Oct. 1 incident in which a Taiwanese Coast Guard patrol ship used a water cannon against a Chinese fishing vessel operating near Pratas, also known as Dongsha Island.

Taiwanese authorities said the vessel ignored repeated warnings to leave restricted waters, prompting the Coast Guard to use the water cannon. The fishing boat subsequently experienced engine failure and was towed away by another Chinese vessel.

China claims sovereignty over the Pratas Islands and their surrounding waters, rejecting Taiwan's authority to enforce maritime restrictions in the area.

A Taiwanese official familiar with the incident told Reuters that the Coast Guard had conducted routine law enforcement operations and acted carefully and proportionately.

The Pratas Islands lie in the northern South China Sea, more than 400 kilometers (250 miles) from Taiwan. Although administered by Taipei, their remote location makes them particularly vulnerable during a potential military confrontation with China.

The islands have an airstrip and a small security presence but no permanent civilian population. Taiwan's Coast Guard handles their day-to-day security.

The diplomatic confrontation comes amid renewed Chinese military activity near Taiwan. Taiwan's Defense Ministry reported Wednesday that China had conducted another joint combat-readiness patrol involving 13 aircraft, including J-16 fighter jets, operating alongside an unspecified number of Chinese naval vessels.

Separately, China's Defense Ministry confirmed that the aircraft carrier Liaoning and its accompanying warships were conducting exercises in the Western Pacific. Beijing did not disclose the precise locations or operational objectives of the drills.

The simultaneous military activity and maritime confrontation highlight growing concerns in Taipei over China's use of so-called gray-zone tactics, which seek to exert pressure without triggering open conflict.

Speaking at a forum in Taipei, Lii Wen, deputy secretary-general of Taiwan's National Security Council, warned that China was increasingly using maritime militia, research ships and other vessels to challenge Taiwan's security.

Taiwanese officials have expressed concern that these operations could threaten transportation routes and critical infrastructure, particularly in waters surrounding Taiwan's outlying territories.

China has steadily expanded its military and maritime presence around Taiwan in recent years, regularly sending aircraft and naval vessels near the island while increasing Coast Guard patrols in disputed waters.

Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan's government rejects China's sovereignty claims.

Although there is no confirmed operational connection between the Pratas confrontation and the latest Chinese military exercises, their timing adds to concerns about the risk of escalation.

The incident also underscores the difficulty Taiwan faces in policing its outlying territories while responding to an increasingly active Chinese military presence throughout the region.