China’s military, coast guard patrol disputed South China Sea atoll

BEIJING (Reuters) -China’s military and coast guard said they conducted patrols on Friday in the waters around the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the busy waterway of the South China Sea.

The coast guard has stepped up law enforcement patrols in the area since the beginning of August, it said in a statement, vowing to “safeguard China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests”.

China sent its naval and air forces on “combat readiness” patrols in the waters and airspace around…