China has blocked four Philippine vessels that attempted to “intrude into the territorial waters” of the disputed Scarborough Shoal on Wednesday, the country’s coastguard said.

Aside from the harassment in Bajo de Masinloc, PCG said that four of its vessels deployed near Escoda Shoal in the West Philippine Sea were also harassed by China.

China and the Philippines gave conflicting versions on Wednesday of a maritime confrontation around a contested shoal in the South China Sea, the latest row in a longstanding dispute between the neighbours.

Philippine vessels faced 'blocking, shadowing and dangerous maneuvers' from Chinese navy and coast guard ships, the Philippines said