-(Channel NewsAsia 6/3) Philippines to upgrade navy base facing disputed waters: The Philippines is to upgrade a navy base facing disputed South China Sea waters to serve the extra ships being acquired to protect its territory, the military said on Thursday.
–(PhilStar 6/3) India expresses concern over territorial row in Southeast Asia-(PhilStar 6/3) US questions China on double-digit military spending hike: The U.S. Pacific commander voiced concern Wednesday over China's intentions as the Asian power announced its latest double-digit hike in defense spending.
-(PhilStar 6/3) Washington resumes talks on US rotational presence: Talks on increased rotational presence of American troops between the Philippines and the US will resume today in Washington. The 6th round of negotiations will last for two days. –(Manila Standard Today 6/3) US rejects PH jurisdiction over troops
-(Philippine Daily Inquirer 6/3) PH has backing of Vietnam, Malaysia vs China’s sea claims: Vietnam and Malaysia are supporting the Philippines in its maritime dispute against China in the West Philippine Sea, Vice President Jejomar Binay said in a statement Thursday.
-(The Diplomat 5/3) China’s Maritime Expansion: Exploiting Regional Weakness? A recent naval voyage may have been an attempt to make regional maritime dominance a fait accompli.
-(Bloomberg 5/3) China Military Spending Rise Signals Firm Stand on Disputes: China is beefing up spending on high-tech weapons and upgrading combat readiness as it throws its military weight behind territorial claims that have stirred tensions with Japan and Southeast Asian neighbors.
-(VOA News 5/3) ASEAN Military Chiefs Endorse Early South China Sea Code: Military chiefs from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, have renewed their group's call for an early conclusion to talks over a Code of Conduct in the disputed South China Sea. -(Kyodo News 5/3) ASEAN defense chiefs reiterate call for COC in South China Sea
-(Reuters 5/3) China's civilian fleet a potent force in Asia's disputed seas: From harassing Filipino fishing boats and monitoring oil exploration off Vietnam to playing cat-and-mouse with the Japanese coastguard, China's expanding fleet of civilian patrol vessels have become the enforcers in disputed Asian waters. –(Reuters 5/3) China's Xi ramps up military spending in face of worried region
-(Vietnamplus 5/3) US senior official visits Vietnam: US’ Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman paid a working visit to Vietnam on March 4 to discuss ways to further foster cooperation between the two countries in the coming time.
-(Foxnews 5/3) Threat of conflict in Asia to increase over next decade, U.S. Joint Chiefs Chairman Dempsey says: The risk of war in Asia will increase over the next 10 years as U.S. military forces struggle to maintain their edge amid declining budgets and increasing threats, according to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
-(GMA Network 5/3) China says 2014 military budget to rise 12.2 percent: China will increase military spending by 12.2 percent this year to 808.23 billion yuan ($131.57 billion), the government said on Wednesday, partly to beef up coastal and air defenses and to develop more high-tech weapons. -(Global Times 4/3) High trust needed in China-ASEAN ties
-(Vietnamplus 4/3) Vietnam, Indonesia aim for 10 billion USD in two-way trade: Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has suggested that Vietnam and Indonesia create further incentives allowing businesses from both sides contribute to a targeted 10 billion USD in two-way trade in the coming time.
-(PhiStar 4/3) 6th round of talks on US troops presence in Phl to resume: The Philippines and the United States (US) will resume Wednesday (Philippine time) talks on the increased rotational presence of American troops in the country amid fresh tensions caused by China’s posturing in the South China Sea. -(Financial Times 5/3) China warns neighbours on territorial disputes
-(Navy Times 4/3) Asia pivot 'can't happen' due to budget pressures: A senior Pentagon official said on Tuesday that, due to cuts to the defense budget, the Pentagon’s plans to pivot to Asia “can’t happen.” -(U.S. Department of Defense 4/3) U.S. DoD Releases Fiscal 2015 Budget Proposal and 2014 QDR
-(The Wall Street Journal 4/3) Philex Petroleum: Still Keen on CNOOC Partnership for South China Sea Prospect: Philex Petroleum Corp. (PXP.PH) continues to be keen to partner China National Offshore Oil Corp., or CNOOC, over the possible joint development of natural gas deposits in an offshore prospect in the Philippines, which is also claimed by China. -(PhilStar 4/3) Philippines: Fishermen can still go to Scarborough Shoal: The government is making sure Filipino fishermen are not deprived of access to Panatag Shoal’s rich resources despite threats of being driven away even during inclement weather by intruding Chinese vessels.
-(PhilStar 3/3) Brunei snubs Phl, others on united stand vs. China: Four members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with claims in the South China Sea failed to take a united stand on China’s growing aggressiveness after Brunei opted out of a recently held meeting in Manila. –(ABS-CBN News 3/3) No invitation for Malaysia to join PHL arbitration case vs. China
-(Rappler 3/3) China on 'offer' to PH: 'Sheer fabrication': The Chinese Foreign Ministry flatly denied a report that China offered the Philippines incentives to stop it from filing its memorial, or written pleading, in its historic case over the South China Sea. –(SCMP 3/3) China and US slowly building trust between militaries
-(Philippine Daily Inquirer 3/3) No Coast Guard vessels near Scarborough Shoal: Not a single Philippine Coast Guard vessel has been deployed to Scarborough Shoal since Coast Guard ships and their Chinese counterparts faced off in that part of the South China Sea for two weeks in mid-2012. –(InterAksyon 3/3) 'Payao' fish sanctuaries provided for PHL fishermen wishing to avoid Scarborough Shoal
-(Vietnamplus 3/3) Vietnam, Indonesia interested in all-around links: Vietnam and Indonesia have set to foster comprehensive cooperation between the two nations, particularly in economics, culture, education and peace in the East Sea.-(Manila Bulletin 3/3) Chinese used hoses, not water cannons, on Pinoys: Fire hoses, not water cannons, were used recently on Filipino fishermen by Chinese coast guards in the Philippines’ Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc, President Benigno S. Aquino III clarified.
-(PhilStar 2/3) US not a party to sea code – envoy: The United States is not a party to the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China will adopt, US Ambassador Philip Goldberg said yesterday. –(Philippine Daily Inquirer 2/3) US ambassador Goldberg pushes code of conduct between Asean, China
-(Philippine Daily Inquirer 28/2) UNCLOS explained: Why China’s claims in South China Sea are invalid: With a little over a month before the Philippines submits its written arguments to the international Permanent Court of Arbitration, Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza publicly spoke for the first time about the basis of the Philippines’ case against China’s claim to nearly the entire South China Sea.
