A Chinese vessel allegedly shadowed Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ships during the country's first resupply mission of the year in the South China Sea.

Footage shows the Chinese ship allegedly following the PCG's BRP Cabra and BRP Sindangan vessels, which were on a rotation and resupply (RORE) mission to outposts in the Kalayaan Group of Islands from January 3 to 9.

PCG spokesman Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said the vessels' commanding off spotted the Chinese ship tailing them but did not give further details on the incident.

He added that the mission was a success, and the Philippine ships safely returned to the Port of Buliluyan in Bataraza, Palawan after delivering the supplies.

Coast Guard Ensign Dave Gabayan, spokesperson for PCG District Palawan, said: 'Our latest RORE mission was a success, and we rotated our personnel manning our outposts in the West Philippine Sea. They travelled to their posts safely.

'Regarding the shadowing of the China Coast Guard, we are already used to this situation since we encounter them on a regular basis. We already know what to do.'

Communist China currently lays claim over almost the entire South China Sea, one of the world's busiest sea lanes. But a United Nations-backed tribunal in 2016 deemed its claims groundless.