Philippines and Australia launch joint air and sea patrols in South China Sea

The Philippines is ramping up efforts to counter what it describes as China's "aggressive activities" in the South China Sea. - PHOTO: REUTERS

MANILA (AFP): Australia and the Philippines announced Saturday the start of joint air and sea patrols off the South-East Asian nation, as they seek to deepen their defence cooperation to counter China's assertiveness in the region.

The "maritime cooperative activity" comes days after the United States held a similar exercise with the Philippines in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely.