The Philippine Navy warned a Chinese warship lurking near a contested island in the South China Sea.

Filipino crew issued a radio challenge to the Chinese ship off the coast of Panata Island, the smallest of the disputed Spratly Island archipelago, on June 6.

China's Jiangkai-class frigate with bow number 525 was also seen sailing with two militia vessels.

The Philippine Navy said the warship moved around five nautical miles closer to their vessel, the BRP Andres Bonifacio, before sending a response.

Lieutenant Commander Christian Malabanan, commanding officer of the Philippine Navy's BRP Andres Bonifacio patrol ship, said: 'We conducted the standard radio challenge within the territorial waters of Panata Island. They counter-challenged, and we said that Panata Island and the Kalayaan Island Group is part of the Philippines.

'Once we issued our radio challenge, they immediately changed their course going to Subi Reef.'

The incident occurred as the Armed Forces of the Philippines were carrying out a 'symbolic' three-day maritime patrol of the disputed Kalayaan Island Group in the South China Sea.

Expansionist China currently lays claim over almost the entire waterway, which is 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.