MANILA: China says it will pull out its fishing boats from a disputed shoal in the South China Sea following a similar move by the Philippines.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei on Monday it hoped for a further easing of tensions after the Philippines pulled back two vessels from a group of disputed rocks, ending a two-month standoff between the two sides.
"We hope there will continue to be an easing in the situation and hope bilateral cooperation will recover and be safeguarded," Hong told a daily news briefing. "We hope the Philippines can exercise restraint."
The standoff at Scarborough Shoal erupted in April when the Philippines accused Chinese fishermen of poaching inside its exclusive economic zone. China has territorial disputes with the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan across the South China Sea, each searching for gas and oil while building up their navies and military alliances.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino III ordered the pullout of the two remaining Philippine government ships over the weekend, citing bad weather.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila said in a statement Sunday that it is sending a rescue vessel to pull out the fishing boats to safety because of the stormy weather and strong tide.
Lightly armed Philippine coast guard ships had since April taken turns to escort a fishing boat guarding the mouth of Scarborough Shoal, a group of rock formations about 124 nautical miles west of the Philippines' main island of Luzon.
At one time, China had nearly 100 civilian surveillance ships, fishing vessels and smaller utility boats in the area, raising tension in the South China Sea, threatening trade, tourism and political relations between the two sides.
