The 149th China-Laos-Myanmar-Thailand cooperation meeting reviewed the current state of cooperation in border protection, such as enforcement of the joint water patrol law along the river, and prevention of illegal border crossing, smuggling, and drug trafficking.

MANILA — The Philippines and Australia began their first joint sea and air patrols in the South China Sea on Saturday, days after Manila took similar steps with the U.S. as Pacific nations warily eye an increasingly assertive China.