The China Coast Guard said on Tuesday that China had permitted the Philippines to transfer injured personnel from the Philippines' illegally "grounded" vessel at China's Ren'ai Jiao in the South China Sea, out of humanitarian considerations.

Spokesperson Jiang Lue said that on Tuesday morning, the Philippines used small shuttle boats to transfer the injured personnel from the illegally grounded Philippine vessel LT-57 to Philippine Coast Guard ship 9702.

The China Coast Guard inquired and verified the Philippine vessels involved and monitored the entire process, Jiang said.

The China Coast Guard continues to carry out rights-protection and law-enforcement operations in accordance with the law in waters near Ren'ai Jiao to safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, Jiang added.