Chinese ships are no longer at the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea and Philippine boats can resume fishing, officials say, calling the Chinese departure a "welcome development".
Key points: Officials say Chinese coastguard and navy ships left 'three days ago' China says that the two countries were able to 'appropriately resolve disputes' In July, the Hague said the zone belonged to the Philippines, which China ignored The reports of withdrawals follow Duterte's visit to Beijing to strengthen ties
Philippine fishermen could access the shoal unimpeded for the first time in four years, Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said, capping off a startling turnaround in ties since his country rattled China in 2013 by challenging its maritime claims at an international tribunal.
"Since three days ago there are no longer Chinese ships, coastguard or navy, in the Scarborough area," Mr Lorenzana told reporters.
"If the Chinese ships have left then it means our fishermen can resume fishing in the area."
Though the Scarborough Shoal is comprised of only a few rocks poking above the sea some 124 nautical miles off the Philippine mainland, it is symbolic of the country's efforts to assert its maritime sovereignty claims.
Asked on Friday about the return of Philippine fishermen to the shoal, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang made no mention of a coastguard withdrawal.
"[China and the Philippines] were able to work together on issues regarding the South China Sea and appropriately resolve disputes," Mr Lu told a regular briefing.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-29/philippines-says-china-vessels-have-left-scarborough-shoal/7976964
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Chinese ships are no longer at the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea and Philippine boats can resume fishing, officials say, calling the Chinese departure a "welcome development".
Key points: Officials say Chinese coastguard and navy ships left 'three days ago' China says that the two countries were able to 'appropriately resolve disputes' In July, the Hague said the zone belonged to the Philippines, which China ignored The reports of withdrawals follow Duterte's visit to Beijing to strengthen tiesPhilippine fishermen could access the shoal unimpeded for the first time in four years, Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said, capping off a startling turnaround in ties since his country rattled China in 2013 by challenging its maritime claims at an international tribunal.
The departure of the Chinese coastguard comes after President Rodrigo Duterte's high-profile visit to Beijing and follows his repeated requests for China to end its blockade of the shoal, a tranquil lagoon rich in fish stocks.
"If the Chinese ships have left then it means our fishermen can resume fishing in the area."
Though the Scarborough Shoal is comprised of only a few rocks poking above the sea some 124 nautical miles off the Philippine mainland, it is symbolic of the country's efforts to assert its maritime sovereignty claims.
Before and after: South China SeaSee how China is converting reefs to military facilities by building artificial islands in the South China Sea.
Mr Lorenzana did not explain the circumstances of the Chinese vessels leaving the shoal, which was the centrepiece of a case Manila filed in 2013 at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague.
Asked on Friday about the return of Philippine fishermen to the shoal, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang made no mention of a coastguard withdrawal.
美帝岛链封锁线在菲律宾就出现了个缺口。如果中国能正式承认菲律宾经济专属区的话。