Indonesia has deployed fighter jets and warships to patrol islands near the disputed South China Sea, the military said Wednesday, escalating tensions with Beijing after a diplomatic spat over "trespassing" Chinese vessels. President Joko Widodo also headed Wednesday to the fishing-rich waters around the Natula islands, which border the South Chine Sea, most of which is claimed by China despite competing claims from other Southeast Asian Nations including Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia.

Indonesia deploys jets, warships in South China Sea. (2020, January 9). Manila Times, p. B6.