Footage released by China on Saturday (August 31) showed what it says was a Philippine coast guard vessel intentionally ramming against a Chinese coast guard ship in disputed waters of the South China Sea, the latest in an escalating series of clashes in the vital waterway.

The video released by the China coast guard showed two ships ramming against each other, with graphics identifying Teresa Magbanua as the Philippine vessel and 5205 as the China Coast Guard vessel.

A spokesperson for China's coast guard said in a statement a Philippine ship, "illegally stranded" at the shoal, had lifted anchor and "deliberately rammed" a Chinese vessel. He called on the Philippines to withdraw immediately or bear the consequences.

READ: China may be trying to drive BRP Teresa Magbanua out of Escoda Shoal — analyst

Separately, a Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson also showed videos of Saturday's confrontation at a news conference, saying China Coast Guard vessel 5205 "directly and intentionally rammed the Philippine vessel" without provocation. The ramming damaged the 97-meter (320-foot) Teresa Magbanua, one of the Philippines' largest coast guard cutters, but no personnel were injured, the official said.

Reuters was able to match the shape of mast, stern and name on Philippine ship No. 9701 and the deck color, shape of stern and bow of Chinese Coast Guard Ship with file images and corroborating footage. Chinese coast guard said on their website that, at about 12:00 on August 31, the Philippine ship No. 9701 rammed their ship. Time and date of the footage was also seen on the footage released by the Chinese coast guard. Reuters was not able to independently verify the date or the location when the footage was filmed.

The collision near the Sabina Shoal was their fifth maritime confrontation in a month in a longstanding rivalry.

(Production: Vinaya K, Jacinta Goh)