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.

China was “pushing us to the wall” with its growing aggression in the South China Sea, said National Security Council (NSC) Asst. Director-General Jonathan Malaya. In the latest acts of aggression by China’s forces,

China has pushed Philippines “to the wall” leaving it with only drastic options to stop intimidation, official adds.

MANILA, Philippines — 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.

A Chinese coastguard ship patrolled Scarborough Shoal on Tuesday pushing the Philippines ‘to the wall’, and prompting Manila to consider international lawsuits.

The Philippines said Tuesday it was alarmed by Chinese coast guard patrols which are growing closer to the country's shore.

Officials 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.