Liu Dejun, Chinese Coast Guard spokesperson confirmed on Sunday that at around 14:00 on September 14th, the Philippine ship No. 9701 withdrew from the lagoon of China's Xianbin Jiao. 

Liu Dejun stated that since April 17th, the Philippine Coast Guard vessel 9701 has illegally detained China's Xianbin Jiao for nearly five months. The Philippine actions seriously violate China's territorial sovereignty, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and seriously undermine regional peace and stability.

During this period, the Chinese side took control measures against the 9701 ship in accordance with the law, and the Philippine side attempted multiple times to organize forced transportation and replenishment, but all failed. At around 14:00 on September 14th, the Philippine ship No. 9701 withdrew from the lagoon of China's Xianbin Jiao.

Liu Dejun emphasied that we warn the Philippine side to stop inciting, hyping up, and risking infringement, and to work towards the same direction as China to uphold the seriousness and effectiveness of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. China has indisputable sovereignty over the the Nansha Qundao, including Xianbin Jiao and the adjacent waters. The Chinese maritime police will continue to carry out rights protection and law enforcement activities in the waters under China's jurisdiction in accordance with the law, and resolutely safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

On September 11, 2024, China and Philippines held the meeting between heads of the China-Philippines Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea (BCM) in Beijing.

The two sides had exchanged views on the maritime issues, in particular the issue of Xianbin Jiao. The Chinese side reiterated its principled position on the issue of Xianbin Jiao and urged the Philippine side to immediately withdraw relevant vessels.