Philippines withdraws ship from disputed area of South China Sea

The Philippines withdrew a coast guard ship previously anchored in a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, officials said on Sunday, following a diplomatic standoff over the area also claimed by China.The 97-meter Teresa Magbanua, which is one of the Philippines' two largest coast guard ships acquired from Japan, had sailed back to port after five months of patrolling around Sabina, a shoal within the Philippine exclusive economic zone where China is accused of carrying out illegal reclamation activities.Lucas Bersamin, executive secretary to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said…READ FULL ARTICLE