The Philippine Coast Guard said that Chinese coast guard and navy vessels took "aggressive action" on Wednesday against a routine fisheries patrol conducted by the PCG and its partners near the contested Scarborough Shoal, in the South China Sea.

In a press release, PCG's spokesperson for the South China Sea Jay Tarriela said that a Chinese coastguard had fired a water cannon directly at a PCG ship "aiming at the navigational antennas of the vessel".

He added that Chinese coastguard and navy ships also "shadowed, blocked, and performed dangerous maneuvers" against Philippine vessels.

The tensions between China, the Philippines, and Taiwan over the South China Sea, especially the Scarborough Shoal - a major fishing area - have increased throughout the year.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea. This is a vital waterway that facilitates more than $3 trillion in annual shipborne commerce. Brunei and other countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Vietnam also claim parts of the South China Sea.

(source: Reuters)