Philippines retreats from China's Xianbin Reef

Philippines withdrew its vessel from the Xianbin Reef, in the South China Sea, on Saturday afternoon, which unlawfully anchored near the reef for nearly five months, China Coast Guard said on Sunday in a statement.?

Liu Dejun, spokesman for the China Coast Guard, said in the statement that the Philippine Coast Guard vessel No 9701 has illegally anchored near the reef since April 17, during which time China has taken necessary measures to warn and control the vessel in accordance with the law, deterring several Philippine schemes of carrying supplies to the vessel.?

Liu said that the Philippines' move has severely infringed on China's sovereignty, which is a breach of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea—signed by China and the members of ASEAN in 2002—and has damaged regional peace and stability.

"We warn the Philippines of stopping hyping and infringing on China's sovereignty while moving in the same direction with China to protect the validity of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," he stated.