Photo shows partially repaired hull as Philippines vessel withdraws after illegal stay in Xianbin Jiao

The Philippines on Saturday withdrew its coast guard ship MRRV-9701 that been illegally anchored at China's Xianbin Jiao for several months, a China Coast Guard spokesperson said on Sunday, while photos from the scene showed signs of a partially repaired hole on the side of the vessel.

According to China Coast Guard spokesperson spokesperson Liu Dejun, the Philippine coast guard ship had been unlawfully stationed at China's Xianbin Jiao for nearly five months since April 17, which seriously violated China's territorial sovereignty and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and gravely undermined regional peace and stability.

The vessel even intentionally collided with a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship carrying normal law enforcement activities in the lagoon of Xianbin Jiao on Aug 31. Liu said the responsibility for this incident lies entirely with the Philippine side.

The damage on vessel 9701 was not properly repaired following that collision, with photos taken from a Chinese vessel showing a patched-up hole on the hull of the Philippines' ship when the vessel withdrew at around 14:00 on Saturday.

Liu said during its illegal stay in the lagoon, China implemented control measures on vessel 9701 in accordance with the law, which foiled the Philippines' multiple attempts to resupply the vessel.

"We would like to make it clear to the Philippines that it should stop the media hype and refrain from carrying out any risky infringement," said Liu.

Photo shows partially repaired hull as Philippines vessel withdraws after illegal stay in Xianbin Jiao

Photo shows partially repaired hull as Philippines vessel withdraws after illegal stay in Xianbin Jiao

Photo shows partially repaired hull as Philippines vessel withdraws after illegal stay in Xianbin Jiao

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng on Monday led a central delegation on a visit to Shihezi, a city under the 8th Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), met local people and carried out inspections.

He led the delegation on a visit to the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Reclamation Museum, which shows China's revolutionary undertaking of building the city of Shihezi and reclaiming land for farming in what was once a sparsely-populated desert. At the museum, He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, pointed out that people must carry forward the Corps' spirit, understand the connotations of the times, put resources related to the Party's heritage to great use, and pass down revolutionary traditions.

He said that the Corps should draw motivation from its own seven-decade history, and encourage officials and workers to stay dedicated to working and serving in Xinjiang, and make new and greater contributions.

At Xinjiang Tianye (Group), a state-owned enterprise which is affiliated to the XPCC, He listened to reports on the company's technological innovation and new industrialization development.

The vice premier said that the Corps should adhere to innovation-driven development, develop new quality productive forces according to local conditions, and accelerate a high-end, intelligent and green transition.

He urged the Corps to focus on clean and efficient use of coal, prioritize environmental protection and energy conservation, strengthen leading enterprises, and work on landmark projects in the modern coal chemical industry, to cultivate new momentum for industrial science and technology in pursuit of high-quality development.

Chinese vice premier urges promotion of Xinjiang's high-quality development during inspection tour in Shihezi