Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels shadowed a Filipino civilian mission ship sailing into a contested part of the South China Sea.

Two CCG vessels reportedly tailed the MV Kapitan Felix Oca some 54 nautical miles off Palawan island in the Philippines today.

The Atin Ito (This is Ours) coalition conducting the mission said: 'CCG 3306 is three nautical miles from Atin Ito ship while the other one, CCG 21549, is five nautical miles away from the Atin Ito ship.'

Footage shows Filipino and Chinese crews exchanging radio challenges.

Atin Ito Coalition convenor Rafaela David had earlier said the mission will proceed despite possible aggression from China.

She said in a statement: 'We proceed as planned, and we hope to conduct our musical event, ideally and safely within the vicinity of Pagasa Island. What we bring is peace through music, not the language of war.'

The mission is scheduled to run until May 30, with more than 150 volunteers - including Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, and Malaysian musicians - onboard to hold a ' historic sea concert' near the disputed Pagasa Island.

The Philippine Coast Guard has also deployed escorts to accompany the civilian vessel.

The mission was launched after China Coast Guard (CCG) ships blasted a government research ship with a water cannon on Thursday, May 22.

The BRP Datu Sanday, operated by the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), was collecting sand samples as part of a marine scientific research initiative when it was allegedly sideswiped and doused by the CCG.

Despite China's 'aggressive, dangerous, and illegal' actions, BFAR said the Philippine team was able to complete the research expedition.

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.