-(The Guardian 21/02) Julie Bishop says missile launchers shouldn't deter flights, commercial flights should continue as normal because of China’s undertaking not to militarise despite the ‘risk of miscalculation’
-(Reuters 21/02) Paracels build-up a pointer to China's broader South China Sea ambitions: Beijing's moves in the Paracels will likely be replicated on its man-made islands in the more contentious Spratly archipelago, that would give Beijing the reach to try to enforce any effective air defense zone in the South China Sea
-(Inquirer 21/02) Filipino troops ready for ‘worst-case’ in dispute with China: the latest Chinese action was “a clear violation” of DOC of Parties in the South China Sea and earlier declarations between China and the Asean.
-(AFR 21/02) We should push back against new drive: Our choice is simple - we can exercise a legitimate international right, or we can lose the capability to operate in our own region by acquiescing to Chinese military power.
-(Interaksyon 21/02) Australia to continue 'freedom of navigation' patrols in South China Sea: "the security of Asia Pacific region is absolutely essential to our own security, so South China Sea remains a very important area for us," Canberra's top diplomat to the Philippines has said
-(Nationalinterest 20/02) Coming to the South China Sea: Russia's Lethal Su-35 Fighter?
-(Dailymail 20/02) Chinese media calls for government to 'fire shots and ram U.S. warships to teach them a lesson' over disputed South China Sea islands
-(ABC 19/02) Opposition wants Australian warships to test 12-nautical-mile limits of contested Chinese islands: Shadow defence minister Stephen Conroy said there was no reason why RAN ships could not conduct freedom of navigation operations close to disputed territories in the SCS.
-(Asia Nikkei Review 19/02) Chinese missiles put Obama administration under fire: Talks will only buy more time for Beijing… "The US should consider additional options to raise the costs on Beijing's behavior," John McCain.
-(Straits Times 19/02) Australia warns Beijing over threat of conflict in South China Sea: "If China wants to avoid falling into the Thucydides Trap, as President Xi describes it, then resolving disputes in the SCS should be done through international law, through all of those mechanisms that are available to us."
-(Gmanetwork 19/02) US accuses China of raising tensions in disputed seas: "The Chinese have said one thing, and yet appear to be doing another…China’s doing nothing ... to make the situation there more stable and more secure.”
-(The Diplomat 19/02) A US-ASEAN South China Sea Failure at Sunnylands?: An assessment of how the issue was dealt with at the summit needs to take into account limitations and realities.
-(Theguardian 19/02) Coalition under renewed pressure to send Australian military to South China Sea: countries like Australia should “demonstrate that they are not prepared to be bullied by China” by conducting a FON exercise within 12 nautical miles of islands claimed by Beijing. (ARF 19/02) Washington in favour of more Australian planes and ships in South China Sea
-(Nationalinterest 19/02) Look Up, America: China Is Playing By Its Own Rules in Space: China’s ASAT technology affords it an increasing ability to deny access and disrupt assets critical to the global economy.
-(Reuters 18/02) U.S. and EU warn China on need to respect South China Sea ruling; (The Japan News 18/02) U.S., ASEAN warn Beijing over outrageous actions in S. China Sea; (Turkishweekly 18/02) US to continue patrols despite South China Sea missile deployment
-(The Diplomat 18/02) US Wants Expanded Naval Protocol Amid China’s South China Sea Assertiveness: Senior naval commander reiterates that CUES needs to cover non-military ships too.
-(Economictimes 18/02) Chinese missiles in South China Sea underscore a growing conflict risk: What China is doing is worrisome because they're obviously increasing their capacity for surveillance and for sustaining a presence that is well beyond what they've had before.
-(BBC 18/02) South China Sea dispute: US attacks China 'militarisation': “There is every evidence, every day, that there has been an increase of militarisation from one kind or another. It's a serious concern,” John Kerry said
-(SMH 18/02) Julie Bishop treads fine line on South China Sea photos: In contrast, Ms Bishop declined to directly draw the same link, saying it came down "to a definition of militarisation".
-(NDTV 18/02) China Confirms 'Weapons' On Disputed Island In South China Sea; (The Guardian 18/02) Beijing accuses US of 'ulterior motives in hyping up' South China Sea missile move: China says facilities have existed for years in response to anger from the US and its allies after missile launchers were installed on a contested island.
-(DW 17/02) What is China's HQ-9 air defense system capable of?: if it has indeed been deployed to Woody Island then this would be the most advanced long range air defense missile currently deployed to an island in the South China Sea.
-(National Interest 17/02) China's Genius Strategy in the South China Sea: Keep Calm, and Build On: America should continue FONOP operations but quickly develop a strategy to ensure China pays a price for its coercive actions in South China.
-(TheGuardian 17/02) Beijing's missile move in South China Sea could make US think twice about getting too close: Assuming the HQ-9 becomes operational it would provide coverage for Woody Island and the whole Paracels. (Japantimes 18/02) Beijing missile deployment could lay groundwork for South China Sea ADIZ.
-(RT 17/02) Beijing deploys 'necessary defenses' on disputed South China Sea Islands, says in line with intl law: Commander of the US Pacific Command, Admiral Harry Harris, told that deployment of advanced Chinese air defenses in the region “would be a clear indication of militarization.”
-(Foxnews 17/02) China sends surface-to-air missiles to contested island in provocative move: This comes as President Obama hosts 10 leaders from Southeast Asia in Palm Springs, many of those leaders concerned over China’s recent activity in the South China Sea
-(Bloomberg 17/02) China Missile Move Sparks New Questions Over South China Sea: The positioning of the missiles casts further doubt on Xi’s pledge at a summit with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington in late September not to militarize the islands and suggests China is prepared to escalate tensions in order defend its claims
-(Inquirer 16/02) Widodo pushes for dialogue to resolve South China Sea conflict: “we want the conflict resolved through dialogue,” Widodo said.
-(CNNPhilippines 16/02) Obama tackles South China Sea dispute in U.S.-ASEAN Summit: Obama urged ASEAN leaders to form a common stance on issues affecting regional order, specifically maritime disputes in the South China Sea.
-(SMH 15/02) Australia to query Chinese government over South China Sea claims; (BBC 17/02) China warns Australia over South China Sea dispute
-(Reuteur 15/02) U.S. admiral warns against Chinese fighter flights from South China Sea runways, it would be destabilizing and would not deter U.S. flights over the area.
-(USNI 15/02) China Reclaimed Land for South China Sea Anti-Submarine Helicopter Base Near Vietnam: It’s another example of China exercising its effort to control the South China Sea, from a military perspective it certainly has an impact as these bases can serve as unsinkable aircraft carriers.
-(Bloomberg 15/02) U.S. Concerned by Non-Navy Chinese Boats in South China Sea: US and China have “all types of senior level engagements”.But the protocols do not extend to non-naval vessels; (Todayonline 15/02) US wants China to clarify its S China Sea intentions
-(ABC 15/02) Barack Obama, South East Asia leaders eye China and trade at California summit: White House officials have said Mr Obama would deliver a tough message to China that disputes over the South China Sea must be resolved peacefully and not by bullying.
-(ChannelNewsAsia 15/02) China seen boosting defence spending as South China Sea, reforms weigh: As the ruling Communist Party seeks to assuage the military's unhappiness at sweeping reforms and as worries over the South China Sea and Taiwan weigh on Beijing.
-(Philstar 15/02) US wants to maintain influence in South China Sea: “We want to make very clear that the United States is going to be at the table and a part of setting the agenda in the Asia-Pacific in the decades to come,” White House deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes.
-(Euractiv 15/02) Tensions in South China Sea require more active role from Europe: The EU should encourage the countries involved to seek a final resolution to these disputes in the International Court of Justice, which could guarantee an unbiased approach that will in turn establish peace and stability in the area for the foreseeable future.
