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

"We have not lost anything," Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said, vowing that "there will be a coast guard presence at Escoda Shoal" after the withdrawal of its flagship BRP Teresa Magbanua from the reef, known internationally as Sabina Shoal.

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