The Philippine army held defense simulations as Chinese ships circled an island in the South China Sea.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) conducted the annual AJEX DAGIT PA joint drills with the country's Navy, Air Force, and Special Operations Forces, at the Philippine-occupied Kota island on November 6.

The island is part of the contested Spratly Archipelago with multiple claimants including Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

The AFP said in a statement: 'During the drills, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16) vessel approached Kota Island, while its rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIB) carrying the participating personnel approached the island's beach.

The personnel carried out a 'mechanized assault' to reclaim the island, and a Philippine Air Force NC212i helicopter later airdropped essential supplies to the troops.

AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said: 'Our objective with this exercise is to hone our soldiers in territorial defense. We have been doing this exercise for eight iterations already.'

The AFP said two People's Liberation Army Navy ships and four Chinese research vessels were seen in the vicinity during the drills. The Chinese fleet did not disrupt the activities.

The AJEX DAGIT PA was held amid territorial clashes between the Philippines and China.

Expansionist 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.

The Communist rogue state - accused of genocide for its crimes against the Uyghur population - has been steadily increasing its influence in recent years through investment in developing countries.