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Chinese coast guard ships reportedly blocked and used water cannon against two Philippine ships carrying supplies in shoals.
That had Manila's top diplomat firing a warning shot across Beijing's bow as the vessels are covered by a mutual defence treaty with the U.S.
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No one was injured in that incident.
The incident held the Philippines ransom, as the two ships had to abort that mission, which aimed to provide food to Philippine forces occupying the Second Thomas shoal, which abuts western Palawan province in the Philippines' internationally recognised exclusive economic zone.
Philippine Foreign Secretary, Teodoro Locsin Jr., tweeted that the three Chinese coast guard ships' actions were illegal, and urged Beijing to back down.
It's the latest flare-up since tensions in the South China Sea began to simmer as the Philippines has taken to accusing China of sabre-rattling.
China virtually claims the entire South China Sea and has transformed seven shoals into island bases protected by missiles as it grows increasingly assertive.
This comes as Asian countries try to forge a full comity of Asian nations.
The South China Sea is the strategic waterway, which China claims, along with Vietnam and a host of other countries.
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