China withdrew one of three ships engaged in a standoff with Philippine vessels in the waters off Huangyan Island in the South China Sea on Friday, further defusing tensions as diplomats pursued a solution.

"China's embassy in Manila informed us they have a different mission for one of the three ships," Raul Hernandez, Philippine foreign affairs spokesman, told a local radio station on Friday.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said on Friday that Huangyan Island is an integral part of Chinese territory, but he didn't confirm media reports that China had withdrawn one ship from the Huangyan Island.

"Actions from the Philippine side have infringed upon China's sovereignty and violated the consensus of maintaining the peace and stability of the South China Sea, not complicating and aggravating the situation," Liu said.

China has sent law enforcement ships to ensure the safety of Chinese fishermen and vessels, "which is a routine move," Liu said.

The Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said the two countries had agreed to maintain the "status quo" and not take any further provocative action at the tiny islets as they sought to negotiate a resolution, according to AFP.

"We have been able to arrive on some agreements. There are areas where we moved forward and there are areas which still remain a challenge," del Rosario said after meeting with China's ambassador to Manila, Ma Keqing. "Both sides have agreed not to do anything that would escalate the situation there any further."

On Sunday, the Philippines dispatched its largest warship to Huangyan Island, saying it was "protecting sovereignty" in its attempts to arrest Chinese fishermen.

Philippine security officials were blocked by two Chinese surveillance vessels when they were about to arrest the Chinese fishermen.

A third Chinese vessel arrived on Thursday at the shoal. Manila later withdrew its warship, replacing it with a coastguard search-and-rescue vessel in what was widely seen as an effort to lower tensions by taking away the immediate threat of military force.

Philippine military chief General Jessie Dellosa said troops reported on Friday that three of the eight Chinese fishing boats had left the area.
South China Sea Conflict