This is the dramatic moment the China Coast Guard (CCG) clashed with Philippine soldiers in contested waters in the South China Sea.

The Chinese vessels swarmed and allegedly tried to commandeer Philippine army boats conducting a routine resupply mission to a military outpost in Ayungin Shoal in the disputed waterway on June 17.

Footage released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) show the Chinese personnel appearing to brandish weapons while apparently threatening the Filipino troops.

The AFP claimed Chinese forces tried to board their boats while deploying tear gas, flourishing bladed weapons, hurling rocks, and blaring sirens to cause chaos.

It said: 'In an act of piracy, CCG personnel proceeded to loot supplies, pilfer equipment, and ultimately destroy the rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) rendering it immobile.'

A Chinese military aircraft was also allegedly seen circling overhead.

Photos published by the AFP showed a Philippine boat's control panel shattered, and an RHIB deflated from a slash on its side.

The clash reportedly left eight Filipino servicemen injured, including one who lost a thumb which was severed after the CCG rammed the Philippine boats.

AFP commander Alfonso Torres Jr. said in a press conference: 'Because of the speed, the forward portion of the China Coast Guard's RHIB landed on top of our troop's RHIB, and unfortunately our troop's hand was there.'

AFP chief-of-staff Romeo Brawner Jr. said: 'This was the first time we saw the CCG bring blades, knives, and spears, which they used to destroy our RHIB. It was very clearly seen in the videos how the Chinese even threatened our personnel by pointing their knives at our personnel.

'Depsite this, our soldiers fought with their bare hands. You can see they were pushing the RHIB of the CCG away. They were preventing CCG from hitting them with their bolos, machetes, and other bladed weapons.'

He also likened the Chinese Coast Guard to 'pirates'.

Meanwhile, China has blamed the Philippines for the conflict, saying the CCG was 'professional and restrained and aimed at stopping the illegal ‘resupply mission'.

The latest clash comes following a new anti-trespassing directive issued by Beijing to arrest vessels that 'illegally enter China's territorial waters'.

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.