BEIJING, June 18 (UPI) -- Chinese and Philippine boats left an area of the South China Sea Monday, possibly easing tensions in a dispute over islands in the region, diplomats said.
The boats pulled out of the Scarborough Shoal waters as the typhoon season approached.
Although the dispute between China and the Philippines is unresolved, diplomats said they hoped the absence of the vessels from the area would help ease tensions, The New York Times reported.
"We hope there will continue to be an easing in the situation and hope bilateral cooperation will recover and be safeguarded," a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
The shoal is about 140 miles west of Luzon, the Philippines' main island.
Several countries have conflicting claims of oil and gas reserves in the South China Sea. China and Taiwan claim nearly all of the sea while Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam have claims on parts near their shores.
During the weekend, Philippines President Benigno S. Aquino III ordered Philippine vessels to leave the Scarborough Shoal waters because of rough seas and heavy rains, the Philippine Foreign Ministry said.
China later followed suit.
"When weather improves, a re-evaluation will be made," Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said.
Philippine Department of National Defense spokesman Peter Galvez said the pullout won't affect his country's claim, The Philippine Star reported.
"If the concern is looking into the area, there are other ways of monitoring," Galvez said Sunday. "It will not weaken our claim."
