Philippines has withdrawn vessel illegally anchored at Xianbin Jiao: China Coast Guard

The Philippines has withdrawn its coast guard ship MRRV-9701 illegally anchored at China's Xianbin Jiao, a China Coast Guard spokesperson said on Sunday.

China Coast Guard spokesperson Liu Dejun said that since April 17, the Philippine coast guard ship, MRRV-9701, had illegally anchored at China's Xianbin Jiao for nearly five months, 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.

During the period, China implemented control measures on vessel 9701 in accordance with the law, which foiled the Philippines' multiple attempts to resupply the vessel, said the spokesperson.

At around 14:00 on Saturday, Philippine coast guard vessel 9701 left the lagoon of China's Xianbin Jiao, according to the spokesperson.

"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, and that it should work with China to uphold the sanctity and effectiveness of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," said the spokesperson.

China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao, including Xianbin Jiao, and the adjacent waters, and China Coast Guard will continue to protect China's rights and enforce the laws in waters under China's jurisdiction in accordance with laws, and resolutely safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, said the spokesperson.

Philippines has withdrawn vessel illegally anchored at Xianbin Jiao: China Coast Guard

Philippines has withdrawn vessel illegally anchored at Xianbin Jiao: China Coast Guard

Philippines has withdrawn vessel illegally anchored at Xianbin Jiao: China Coast Guard

Philippines has withdrawn vessel illegally anchored at Xianbin Jiao: China Coast Guard

China's total import and export volume of trade in sports services reached 52.89 billion yuan (about 7.45 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, said the State General Administration of Sport on Wednesday.

At a press conference in Beijing, Zhou Jinqiang, deputy director of the State General Administration of Sport, briefed on the achievements scored by China since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012.

China's sports sector has achieved high-quality development, with a widespread trend of fitness among the public, remarkable achievements in competitive sports, vibrant youth sports activities, and rapid growth in the sports industry, Zhou said, adding these advancements have contributed to building China into a leading sports nation.

"Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the total scale and added value of China's sports industry have significantly increased, with growth rates surpassing those of GDP during the same period. The proportion of the sports industry in the country's GDP has also continued to rise steadily," said Zhou.

"From 2012 to 2022, the annual average growth rate of the added value of the sports industry reached 15.4 percent, with its share of the domestic GDP increasing from 0.60 percent to 1.08 percent. In 2023, China's total import and export volume of trade in sports services stood at 52.89 billion yuan, marking a 178 percent increase compared to the previous year. At present, China has essentially forged a sports industry system that is led by competitive performances and fitness leisure, with the joint development of sports venue services, sports training, sports manufacturing, and sports media," said Zhou.

China's total trade in sports services reaches 52.89 bln yuan in 2023: official