A Chinese Coast Guard ship fired water cannons on a Philippines government vessel in disputed waters.

The Filipino crew were on their way to drop food, water, fuel, and other supplies to military troops in Ayungin Shoal when they were blocked by the ship from Communist China with bow number 5305 in the South China Sea on Saturday (August 5).

Footage shows the white boat with words written in block letters ‘China Coast Guard' blasting water against the military vessel.

Due to the alleged attack, one of the Filipino boats reportedly could not unload supplies and complete its mission.

Philippines Coast Guard spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said: ‘Such actions by the CCG not only disregarded the safety of the PCG crew and the supply boats but also violated international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the 1972 Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS), and the 2016 Arbitral Award.

‘We ask that China Coast Guard, as an organization with a responsibility to observe state obligations under UNCLOS, COLREGs, and other relevant instruments of international maritime safety and security, to cease all illegal activities within the maritime zones of the Philippines.'

The recent confrontation was the latest in the long-running territorial dispute involving China, the Philippines and neighbouring countries in the South China Sea.

Following the incident, Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said the country's secretary of Foreign Affairs had already sent a note to the Chinese ambassador and would await a response.

He said: ‘Our Secretary of Foreign Affairs usually went to Ambassador Huang today and brought another note verbale, along with pictures and videos of what happened.

‘We will see what their response will be.'

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.