MANILA (UPDATED) — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Tuesday said it hoped Chinese officials would discuss a possible new agreement in the West Philippine Sea after fresh tensions between the two countries erupted this week.

The coast guard made the statement as the policy-setting National Maritime Council said the Philippines remains committed to diplomacy and a peaceful resolution to disputes in the West Philippine Sea, the part of the South China Sea within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

Two PCG vessels — BRP Bagacay and BRP Cape Engaño — sustained serious damage Monday in pre-dawn collisions with Chinese vessels that made "unlawful and aggressive maneuvers" near Escoda shoal, Manila said. 

READ: Task force says 'aggressive' Chinese ships have damaged PCG patrol vessels

"We are once again hoping and praying that China will eventually realize na itong bullying — unlawful acts na ginagawa nila, of course with the pressure from the international community, would again compel China to join us in the negotiating table para magkaroon ng mas maayos na pag-uusap (so there will be a proper dialogue)," Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, told TeleRadyo Serbisyo.

Manila's security partners, including the United States, have raised concerns or have outright condemned what the US Department of State called China's "dangerous and escalatory measures" to insist on its claim over Philippine waters.

In a statement Tuesday, the US State department also called on China "to abide by international law and desist from its dangerous and destabilizing conduct."

Tarriela, referencing a recent agreement the two nations agreed upon regarding resupply missions for Filipino troops stationed at BRP Sierra Madre in a different part of the waterway, said parties were able to reach an arrangement despite incidents around Ayungin Shoal. 

Tarriela added that the vessels damaged in Monday's tensions still carried out their mission and are at Pag-asa Island, which is part of Palawan province.

The National Maritime Council on Tuesday said the Philippines is "seriously concerned" over Chinese actions against the PCG ships, saying these were "deliberate harassment and infringement by China against Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea."

Despite that, the council said, "the government remains committed to the President's directive for a diplomatic approach and the peaceful resolution of disputes."

PCG SHIPS TO CONTINUE WITH RESUPPLY VOYAGE

Tarriela said that, from Pag-asa Island, the PCG vessels will conduct resupply missions in Parola Island, as well as in maritime features where the coast guard personnel are stationed.

The Philippines has entered into agreements with China in hopes of de-escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea, part of the larger South China Sea, much of which is still claimed by Beijing despite an international court ruling that it has no legal basis.

China Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu has accused the Philippine vessels of acting "in an unprofessional and dangerous manner, resulting in a glancing collision" on Monday. 

Beijing's foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the Philippine vessels' actions had "seriously violated China's sovereignty", adding China "will continue to take resolute and forceful measures in accordance with the law to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests".

Apart from the Ayungin arrangement, the Philippines and China also agreed to increase the number of communication channels between them to resolve maritime disagreements. 

A national security official last week also raised the possibility of a new agreement with China following Beijing's dangerous use of flares in the path of a Philippine Air Force aircraft conducting a routine patrol over Bajo de Masinloc. 

READ: PH security exec wants pact with China to prevent 'hostile' acts in airspace

— With a report from Agence France-Presse 

RELATED VIDEO: