Philippines Says Disputed Reef 'Not Lost' To China Despite Pullout

There have been frequent confrontations betwen Chinese and Philippine coast guard ships near the disputed shoal in recent months, including this late-August collision (Credit: AFP)

The Philippines insisted on Monday that it had not given up a South China Sea reef, two days after it pulled out a ship stationed there following a months-long standoff with rival claimant China.

Manila had deployed the coast guard flagship BRP Teresa Magbanua to Sabina Shoal in April to stop Beijing from building an artificial island there, as it has atop several other disputed spots in the strategic waterway.