During the final years of the Late Qing period, the occupation of Dongsha Island by Japanese businessman Nishizawa Yoshiji sparked diplomatic negotiations between China and Japan. As a prominent newspaper of the revolutionary faction, the Shenzhou Daily provided distinctive coverage of the Dongsha Island incident. It emphasized the reproduction and critique of Japanese press commentary, correcting any misinformation. It also integrated modern international law and practical statecraft principles into the sovereignty protection efforts for Dongsha Island. Furthermore, it reflected on the historical lessons of the incident, highlighting the shortcomings of late Qing diplomacy and underscoring the significance of coastal governance. A systematic study of Shenzhou Daily's reports not only provides insights into the understanding of maritime crises by the progressive bourgeois revolutionaries of the late Qing period, but also explores their use of the press to disseminate new knowledge on international law, diplomatic responses, and maritime governance, as well as their role in awakening national consciousness.