Beijing’s naval and air patrols in the disputed waterway take place as US, Japan, Australia and the Philippines conduct the first joint drills.

China has conducted military “combat patrols” in the disputed South China Sea, raising the stakes in the disputed seas on the same day as the United States holds the first joint military exercises with the Philippines, Japan and Australia.

Beijing’s surprise announcement of a naval drill on Sunday came a day after defence chiefs from the four countries said the Philippines would host joint drills in the same area on the same day.

Beijing’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command said it was organising “joint naval and air combat patrols in the South China…