A Chinese navy ship was seen allegedly shadowing a convoy of Philippine, French and U.S. ships during a joint military drill in the South China Sea on Saturday.

People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessel number 793 was seen following the fleet conducting army exercises some 50 nautical miles off the Philippine island of Palawan on April 27.

The ship entered the Philippine exclusive economic zone and came as close as three nautical miles off the Philippines' BRP Davao del Sur.

Commander Marco Sandalo, commanding officer of the BRP Davao del Sur, said: 'Since we started monitoring their movements, we can consider them to be conducting shadowing operations. Presently, no radio challenges have been sent.

'We will be providing radio challenges if we see them impede or obstruct the safety of navigation during our exercise.'

The 2024 Balikatan Exercises is said to be the biggest iteration yet involving some 16,700 soldiers from both allied nations. It will run from April 22 to May 10, and will be carried out beyond the Philippines' 12-nautical-mile territorial zone.

However, China warned that the move will only worsen tensions in the disputed South China Sea.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said: 'Attempts to bring in external forces to safeguard its so-called security will only lead to greater insecurity for itself.'

The Philippines has seen a number of clashes with Chinese vessels in the South China Sea in recent months.

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.