A Philippine security official says China is “pushing us to the wall” with growing aggression in the disputed South China Sea and warned that “all options are on the table” for Manila’s response, including new international lawsuits.

Growing tensions between China and the Philippines in the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea are reaching a boiling point, Manila officials say.

The Philippines accuses China of using its largest coast guard vessel to intimidate Filipino fishermen at Scarborough Shoal, heightening tensions in the disputed South China Sea. Manila's National Security Council urges China to withdraw the vessel,

Beijing has repeatedly asserted its jurisdiction over Scarborough Shoal, which lies within Manila’s exclusive economic zone.

The Philippines accused China on Tuesday of intimidating its fishermen at a disputed South China Sea shoal, and normalizing an “illegal presence,” after Beijing sent its largest coast guard vessel into Manila’s maritime zone.

The Philippines has urged China to halt its aggressive maneuvers in the South China Sea, specifically near the disputed Scarborough Shoal, after lodging a protest over Chinese maritime activities within its exclusive economic zone.

The Philippine Coast Guard on Wednesday said that China's "monster ship" deployed off Zambales in Luzon was so far Beijing's closest vessel yet to the Philippine coastline.