China and the Philippines have repositioned some ships stationed near Huangyan Island, easing tensions that have escalated since April, AFP reported Tuesday.

The Philippine foreign department said two Chinese government ships had left a lagoon near Huangyan Island, prompting a Philippine fisheries bureau vessel to also leave.

Edwin Lacierda, a spokesman for Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, said the move signals "an easing of tensions," adding that he appreciated the gesture of both parties to de-escalate tension over Huangyan Island.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said Tuesday that Chinese government ships have always been under deployment and on guard in waters surrounding Huangyan Island under the command of law enforcement, management and services.

"There are no Philippine government ships in the lagoon currently and Chinese fishing vessels are operating normally in the region without any disturbance," Liu added, according to the ministry's website.

China tried to de-escalate the Huangyan Island situation by withdrawing two law enforcement vessels two weeks after the standoff, but Manila's moves to rename Huangyan Island as well as attempts to bring the dispute before an international tribunal have shown its intention to escalate the issue, analysts said.

Ji Qiufeng, a professor at the School of International Relations at Nanjing University, believes the Philippine government's announcement, which came amid Aquino's visit to the UK and the US, aims to save face. "The Philippines should have known that its provocation would yield nothing. It has no clout when seeking help from the UK or the US," Ji told the Global Times. "China's response is to show that it is our legal right to have government ships in the lagoon and exercise our sovereignty."

Agencies contributed to this story