Philippines, Australia launch sea, air patrols in South China Sea

Amid heightened tensions with Beijing over the contested waters, the Philippines and Australia kicked off their first joint maritime patrols on Saturday, days after the Southeast Asian nation concluded a similar activity with the US in the South China Sea. The Philippines and Australia started their first joint maritime patrols Saturday, days after similar activity conducted by the Southeast Asian nation with the United States in the South China Sea. The joint patrols with Australia kicked off shortly after Manila took similar measures with the United States, as Pacific nations cautiously monitored an increasingly assertive China. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos…