The Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) allegedly harassed Philippine ships during a resupply mission to a disputed atoll in the South China Sea.

Footage from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shows a Chinese vessel appearing to cut off a Philippine ship headed towards Ayungin Shoal on October 4.

The PCG ships were taking supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II-era vessel intentionally grounded by the Philippines to lay claim to the shoal back in 1999.

The PCG said the resupply mission was successful despite the CCG's 'dangerous manoeuvre.'

The incident comes amid mountain tensions over sovereignty and fishing rights in the region.

In early August, the CCG had blasted Philippine ships with water cannons in the same area. While in September, the CCG reportedly hounded Philippine government vessels several times, chasing them away and blocking them from entering disputed waters.

The CCG had also installed floating buoy barriers, which have been dismantled by the PCG, to keep Filipino fishermen away.

Communist 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.