Philippines increases South China Sea patrols as Beijing set to roll out new trespass laws

Manila has previously described new regulations, which allow Chinese coast guard to detain foreigners, as an escalation of the situation'

The Philippines has stepped up patrols in the disputed South China Sea ahead of the rollout of a new Chinese regulation that empowers its coast guard to detain foreigners accused of trespassing.

The regulation, which is effective from Saturday, marks a further escalation in tensions in the fiercely contested waterway, which is one of the world's most economically important and busiest trading routes