MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard said Saturday that three Filipino fishermen were wounded and two fishing vessels were badly damaged after Chinese coast guard ships used water cannons and aggressive maneuvers against fishing boats near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea.

The coast guard said nearly two dozen Filipino fishing boats operating near Sabina Shoal were subjected to water cannon blasts and blocking actions on Friday, while a small Chinese coast guard vessel cut anchor lines on several boats, putting crews at risk. Philippine authorities said coast guard ships sent to assist the fishermen were repeatedly blocked from reaching the area but eventually arrived Saturday morning to provide medical aid and supplies.

In a statement, the Philippine Coast Guard urged China’s coast guard to follow internationally recognized maritime standards and prioritize the safety of lives at sea. China’s embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment, Reuters reported.

China’s coast guard said Friday it had expelled multiple Philippine vessels from the area and taken what it called “control measures,” a statement Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela said amounted to an admission of wrongdoing. Sabina Shoal, known as Xianbin Reef in China and Escoda Shoal in the Philippines, lies about 150 kilometers (95 miles) west of Palawan within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, a major global trade route, despite a 2016 international arbitration ruling that found Beijing’s sweeping claims had no legal basis, a decision China continues to reject.