Britain and France are sailing warships through the South China Sea this year to challenge China's militarization of the hotly contested waterway, their defense ministers said on Sunday. The British and French defense chiefs made the remarks at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, echoing the latest US plan to ramp up its freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea. The US operations are aimed at countering Beijing's expanding military presence in the strategic waterway and the latter's stance that territorial disputes should be a matter between China and its Asian neighbors.

Britain, France to sail warships in the disputed South China Sea. (2018, June 5). Philippine Daily Inquirer, pp. A1, A6.