Philippines boosts patrols to counter China in contested South China Sea

Tensions between the two nations have been rising since more than 200 Chinese vessels were seen moored at Whitsun Reef. - AFP

MANILA, April 13 (Bloomberg): The Philippines has deployed extra vessels to patrol the South China Sea where Chinese ships had been spotted at a disputed reef as tensions deepen between the two nations.

Four Philippine Navy ships have been sent to back up Coast Guard and fishing vessels at Whitsun Reef, Reed Bank and the Spratly Islands, the South China Sea task force said in a statement Monday. "Sea assets are and shall be continuously deployed to different areas” for patrol, the statement added.