The United States deployed a reconnaissance aircraft while Japan and the Philippines sent navy ships in a joint patrol in the disputed South China Sea on Friday, two days after the allied forces condemned actions by Chinese coast guard vessels against Philippine patrol ships.
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said the joint patrol was conducted in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone by allies and partners to “uphold the right to freedom of navigation and overflight " and "other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace."
