The Philippines' fisheries bureau said the lives of a civilian crew were put at risk when the Chinese Coast Guard fired water cannons and sideswiped one of its vessels while it conducted marine research around a disputed South China Sea reef.

The latest incident comes amid ongoing tensions between China and the Philippines over the disputed strategic waterway.

Philippine officials criticized the Chinese coast guard for allegedly using a powerful water cannon on a Philippine fishing boat near Sandy Cay in the South China Sea. The incident heightens tensions in the disputed region.