The Latest Breaking News from Scarborough Shoal

U.S. and Philippine fighter aircraft conduct joint patrol over Scarborough Shoal in South China Sea, amid tensions with China. Learn about the recent milit...

The Philippines said the China Coast Guard fired water cannon and "sideswiped" a government vessel Wednesday during a maritime patrol near the disputed Scarborough Shoal, after Beijing said it had "exercised control" over the ship.

Territorial confrontations are rising between China and a host of other nations in waters that are key to global trade. Here is a map and guide to the region, showing why its fate matters

The accusations have been made by the Philippines' Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

The Philippines on Saturday accused Chinese coast guard ships of "dangerous" manoeuvres after they repeatedly blocked a vessel delivering supplies to Filipino fishermen at a reef off the Southeast Asian nation's coast.

The latest incident of Filipino fishermen being harassed by China's coast guard is just one of several similar instances in the past year in the disputed Scarborough Shoal – an island feature with a marine-rich lagoon, located in a strategic position for air and sea navigation.

Videos released by the Philippine Coast Guard showed Chinese ships blasting water cannon at Philippine boats during two separate resupply missions to fishermen at Scarborough Shoal and a tiny garrison at Second Thomas Shoal on Saturday and Sunday.

The Philippines said it had summoned China's envoy on Monday and flagged the possibility of expelling him following the most tense confrontations between the countries' vessels in years at flashpoint reefs in the disputed South China Sea.

The Philippines accused the Chinese coast guard on Saturday of using water cannons to "obstruct" three government boats delivering provisions to Filipino fishermen near a reef off its coast.