The Philippines has withdrawn its coast guard ship MRRV-9701 illegally anchored at China's Xianbin Jiao, a China Coast Guard spokesperson said on Sunday.

China Coast Guard spokesperson Liu Dejun said the Philippine coast guard ship MRRV-9701 had illegally been in the area for nearly five months, since April 17, which seriously violated China's territorial sovereignty and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and gravely undermined regional peace and stability. During the period, China implemented control measures on vessel 9701 in accordance with the law, which foiled the Philippines' multiple attempts to resupply the vessel, said the spokesperson.