The Philippines did not enter into an agreement with China to pull out its ship from a South China Sea flashpoint, Manila’s top diplomat said Thursday.

The challenge for the various parties is to insulate the China-Philippines tussle from broader regional and global tensions.

A Philippine vessel that spent months anchored at a disputed reef in the South China Sea has left the area, the national maritime council said Sunday. The Philippine Coast Guard ship BRP Teresa Magbanua had been anchored inside Sabina Shoal since April to assert Manila’s claims to the area and prevent China from seizing it.

Philippine maritime council says another vessel will ‘immediately take over’ for ship China says stayed illegally in disputed Spratlys.