The China Coast Guard deployed speedboats in an aggressive manoeuvre as Philippine ships conducted a resupply mission in the South China Sea on Monday.

China Coast Guard (CCG) Vessel 4202, which was reported to have blocked or tailed Philippine ships in previous encounters, deployed a Chinese speedboat to circle Philippine fishing vessels that were refuelling in contested waters on April 21.

Another Chinese speedboat was seen transporting personnel to a Chinese maritime militia vessel.

The Philippine fisheries bureau was delivering crude oil to Filipino fishermen in the Recto Bank or Reed Tablemount some 80 nautical miles northwest of the Philippine island of Palawan.

The Phliippine Coast Guard said the incident was 'further proof of the connection between the China Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militia'.

Expansionist China currently lays claim over almost the entire South China Sea, one of the world's busiest sea lanes. But a United Nations-backed tribunal in 2016 deemed its claims groundless.

The Communist rogue state - accused of genocide for its crimes against the Uyghur population - has been steadily increasing its influence in recent years through investment in developing countries.