Australia’s Air Force chief says he wants to see warships and planes continue to regularly sail and fly into the South China Sea, despite the rising military tensions in the disputed waterway.

Key points:

No change to previous number of flights, Air Marshal Leo Davies says
Continues as Australia’s contribution to preserving regional security and stability in South East Asia
This year Australia has conducted 32 Operation Gateway flights
His comments come a week after a landmark ruling from an international court which rejected Beijing’s claims to the contested region.

Defence Force planners in Canberra have continued to closely monitor developments to Australia’s north.

So far this year Australia has conducted 32 Operation Gateway flights, but the RAAF have insisted the number of South China Sea patrols are consistent with past years.

Air Marshal Leo Davies, the chief of the Royal Australian Air Force, has indicated that the operational tempo would continue.

“Air Force will focus on building and encouraging a rules-based global order,” he said.

“Air Force will work closely with our allies, partners and other like-minded air forces to determine how we can make a practical contribution to ensuring freedom of navigation.”

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-20/south-china-sea-raaf-patrols-to-continue/7643444