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The Philippines' top diplomat unambiguously told Beijing where to go yesterday, as the government insisted Chinese vessels were still illegally lingering in the disputed South China Sea.

"China, my friend, how politely can I put it? Let me see ... O ... Get the f*** out," Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin said on Twitter.

The latest spat between Manila and Beijing over the resource-rich waters - which China claims almost entirely - flared up in March after hundreds of Chinese boats were spotted inside the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone.

China has refused repeated calls from the Philippines to withdraw the boats, and tensions have intensified as Manila steps up maritime patrols in the area.

Locsin frequently uses strong language on Twitter and defended his latest outburst by saying: "Usual suave diplomatic speak gets nothing done."

The order came as his foreign affairs department accused China's coast guard of "belligerent actions" against Filipino boats involved in maritime drills.

Philippine Coast Guard personnel onboard rubber boats monitor the Chinese vessels. REUTERS

Manila's top diplomat swears at China online