Philippine defense officials say Chinese ships have left the Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea, enabling Filipino fishermen to resume fishing without fear of harassment since China seized control of the shoal in 2012.

Philippine defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana said China's departure from the shoal was a "welcome development," adding that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's recent visit to Beijing proved to be very fruitful.

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Lorenzana said Filipino fishermen can now access the shoal for the first time since China took control of it four years ago in what he said appears to be a restoration of ties between Beijing and Manila after the latter challenged China's claims in the disputed area in a case at a Hague-based international tribunal.

State visit

The departure of the Chinese Coast Guard comes on the heels of Duterte's recent four-day state visit to Beijing where he negotiated with Chinese leaders to end their blockade of the shoal and open it to Filipino fishermen.

"Since three days ago there are no longer Chinese ships, Coast Guard or Navy in the Scarborough area," Lorenzana told Manila reporters.

Lorenzana said that if indeed the Chinese Coast Guard have left the shoal, then "Filipino fishermen can now resume fishing in the area."

July 12 ruling

The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled on July 12 that China has no legal basis to make territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea.

The tribunal also ruled that the resource-rich Scarborough Shoal belongs to no one country and that it is the traditional fishing ground for Chinese, Philippine, and Vietnamese fishermen.

China had ignored the ruling and dismissed it as "illegal" and "null and void."

Lorenzana has not commented on the reasons for the apparent departure of Chinese vessels from the shoal which was the burning issue in the case filed by Manila against Beijing before the PCA.

On Friday, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters that he has no knowledge about the Chinese Coast Guard withdrawal from the Scarborough Shoal except to say that China and the Philippines continue to work together to resolve the South China Sea dispute.

"China and the Philippines were able to work together on issues regarding the South China Sea and appropriately resolve disputes," he said.

TagsScarborough Shoal, Chinese Coast Guard, Filipino fishermen, South China Sea, President Rodrigo Duterte, President Xi Jinping, Philippines, china