-(Atimes 24/12) Japan PM Abe’s cabinet approves largest defence budget: The trend reflects the hawkish Abe’s attempt to build a military more active and collaborative with the United States, its biggest ally.

-(Thediplomat 24/12) China Sent Armed Coast Guard Vessel Near Disputed Islands: For the first time, China sent an armed vessel into disputed waters near the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands.

-(Cimsec 23/12) South China Sea Arbitration: Beijing puts forward her own views part two: An analysis of China’s narrative as laid down in that document.

-(The Diplomat 22/12) The Strategist, the Lawyer and the South China Sea: Understanding law and politics in contested waters.

-(Ibtimes 22/12) Japan Spots Armed Chinese Ships Patrolling Senkaku Islands: The sighting is likely to add tension to the already strained Tokyo-Beijing diplomatic relationship, which has suffered as a result of China's claims over island chains and territorial waters in the region.

-(Ibtimes 22/12) Japan stepping up military presence in tense East China Sea: This is the first time Japan has significantly increased its presence in the disputed territories in the East China Sea, largely owing to the pressure from Washington.

-(Nippon 22/12) Maintaining Peace in the South China Sea: FONOPs alone will not likely alter the Chinese approach to the region. Other measures are being taken to change China’s calculus and encourage it to rely on diplomacy rather than pressure to manage territorial disputes with its neighbors.

-(The Diplomat 22/12) The Costs and Benefits of an 'Accidental' FONOP in the South China Sea: An unintentional B-52 flyby within 12 nautical miles of Cuarteron Reef may be fortuitous for the United States.

-(Reuters 21/12) Philippines vows stronger military to back South China Sea claim: Aquino promised to spend about 83.90 billion pesos ($1.77 billion) in a five-year period until 2017 to strengthen the military as China asserts its claims to most of the waters.

-(The Hindu 21/12) China rejects U.N. arbitration on disputed South China Sea

-(Voanews 21/12) Asian Militaries Embrace Submarines Amid South China Sea Competition: China’s growing assertiveness in disputes over the South China Sea and modernization of China’s submarine fleet has led to demand for submarines by many countries in the region.

-(MB 21/12) Chinese Navy conducts exercise in South China Sea: The Chinese Navy conducted a massive combat exercise in the South China Sea, mobilizing forces from each of its three fleets, the Chinese Navy-(Todayonline 21/12) Why China must pay a cost for its actions in South China Sea: If Chinese bullying enables it to ignore international rules and norms, a very dangerous precedent will have been set.

-(Nikkei 21/12) Eyeing Beijing, Obama plans summit with ASEAN leaders: Obama is expected to call for ASEAN members' cooperation and urge more of them to join the U.S.-led TPP trade agreement.

-(Economictimes 21/12) China to accelerate militarising its new islands, warned a state-run daily after a US bomber flew close to it in the South China Sea.

-(National Interest 20/12) If China's Goliath Threatens Asia, Then Arm David: Countries such as the Philippines need American help today.

-(SCMP 20/12) China, the US and the delicate diplomatic dance for Southeast Asian countries: China’s growing might will make it increasingly difficult for countries in the region to strike the right balance with the US, and at some point, they will have to choose sides