China and the Philippines have4 reportedly ended their week-long standoff in area in the South China Sea to which both countries lay claim.
The standoff last Sunday, when Filipino authorities reportedly intercepted eight Chinese poacher boats and demanded they hand over their catch.
Chinese officials saw the encounter as harassment to its nationals and responded by dispatching three larger surveillance vessels to Scarborough Shoal - located 230 kilometres from the Filipino Zambales Province, which the Philippines claims as its territory.
Manila, in turn deployed its largest navy ship.
There is concern over clashes in the region prompted by what may consider to China's growing assertiveness in its claims to territories. The last major standoff happened between China and Vietnam and claimed the lives of 70 Vietnamese sailors in 1988.
