Australia, Indonesia consider joint South China Sea naval patrols

(L-R) Indonesia President Joko Widodo talks with Australia Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop after a meeting at the presidential palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, October 26, 2016. REUTERS/Beawiharta

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia is considering joint naval patrols with Indonesia in the contested South China Sea, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Tuesday.

Bishop said Indonesia's request for joint patrols at a bilateral meeting in Bali last week was "consistent with our policies of exercising our right of freedom of navigation."