US, Japan And Filipuna Joint Patrol In South China Sea Amid China's Claims

JAKARTA - The United States (US), Japan, and the Philippines held joint patrols in the region disputed by many countries, the South China Sea, Friday, December 6.

Citing AP, Friday 6 December, the US deployed reconnaissance aircraft, while Japan and the Philippines sent naval vessels in the joint patrol.

This activity was carried out by allied forces after two days ago the Philippine patrol boat was under pressure from a Chinese coast guard ship.

US Indo-Pacific Command said the joint patrol was carried out in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone by allies to "enforce the right to freedom of navigation and aviation" and "other legitimate use of the sea and international airspace."

The phrase was used by the US, Japan, and the Philippines to oppose China's increasingly aggressive actions in the disputed waters.

Two Philippine security officials said the patrol was carried out about 40 nautical miles or 74 kilometers from Scarborough Shoal, a fishing area disputed between China and the Philippines off the northwestern coast of the Philippines.

The two officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they did not have the authority to discuss the details publicly.

China is known to claim the South China Sea is almost entirely and has carried out routine patrols via coast guard vessels, navys, and militia fleets.

Efforts to claim that China in the South China Sea are of course dealing with countries that are involved in disputes, namely the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Indonesia has also faced several times with Chinese coast guard vessels in Natuna waters, the southern suburbs of the South China Sea, which is rich in gas.