The Philippines has accused China of shooting water cannons at three of its government boats, marking the most recent territorial disagreement between the two nations in the South China Sea.

On Saturday, the incident occurred in the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal, a territory claimed by both countries. Beijing seized control of the shoal from Manila in 2012 following an extended standoff. Located approximately 220km (137 miles) off the coast of the Philippines, the islands are situated within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ), as stipulated by international maritime law.

Video footage depicts Chinese ships directing forceful blasts of water toward Philippine government vessels. The Philippines has condemned China's actions, labelling them as "illegal and aggressive."

The inter-agency government body, the Philippine Task Force for the South China Sea, asserted in a statement that on Saturday, water cannons were deployed at least eight times. The Chinese coastguard was accused of intentionally and directly targeting the vessels, as per the statement.

Three boats from the fisheries bureau were on a supply mission, aiming to deliver oil and groceries to over 30 Filipino fishing vessels in the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal.

“To prevent the distribution of humanitarian support is not only illegal but also inhuman,” the task force said, as it called for China to stop its “aggressive activities”.

The task force further reported that vessels from the Chinese Maritime Militia were involved in "dangerous maneuvers" and utilized a long-range acoustic device, causing temporary discomfort and incapacitation to certain Filipino crew members.

Beijing said it had used what it called "control measures" on ships that had intruded into its waters.

Earlier this week, the Philippines lodged accusations against China, citing a "swarming" incident near its coast as over 135 military boats were observed in the South China Sea.

The Philippines and China have a long history of maritime incidents in the disputed South China Sea, a crucial waterway through which over $3 trillion of annual ship-borne trade traverses.

China asserts territorial claims over almost the entire South China Sea, encompassing areas also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. However, in 2016, The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China's claims had no legal basis.

Image source: AFP