Chinese ships encircled a Philippine Coast Guard vessel on a routine resupply mission in the South China Sea.

Footage shows three Chinese ships surrounding the Philippine Coast Guard's MRRV 4409, one of the vessels delivering supplies to the military outpost BRP Sierra Madre in the Second Thomas Shoal, on March 23.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela said: 'As of 0720H on March 23, 2024, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel, MRRV 4409, has been impeded and encircled by one (1) China Coast Guard vessel with bow number 21551, along with two (2) China Maritime Militia Vessels (CMMV) bearing bow numbers 00036 and 00314.

'MRRV 4409 has been isolated from the resupply boat due to the irresponsible and provocative behavior of the Chinese maritime forces, who have shown a disregard for the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS).'

A few minutes later, another Philippine vessel, the Unaizah May 4 (UM4), was attacked by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) with water cannons, sustaining 'heavy damage'.

The UM4 is the same Philippine vessel that was blasted with water cannons by the CCG earlier this month, injuring four Filipino crew members.

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.