-(WSWS 8/8) No maritime agreement at ASEAN meeting: In another sign of mounting tensions fuelled by the Obama administration’s “pivot to Asia,” China ruled out any immediate commitment to a “Code of Conduct” in the South China Sea at a meeting with Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers meeting in Bangkok last week.

-(The Diplomat 7/8) The Promise and Peril of China’s New Coast Guard: The consolidation of China’s coast guard is widely viewed as positive. Is it really? –(Eurasiareview 7/8) Xi Jinping’s Foreign Policy – Expect No End To Assertiveness China

-(PhilStar 7/8) Philippine NBI recommends homicide vs Coast Guard in Taiwanese death: The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recommended that homicide charges be filed against eight Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel involved in the Balintang Channel shooting.–(Foreign Policy Journal 7/8) Back against the wall no more: How ASEAN can stand up to China in the South China Sea disputes

-(The Wall Street Journal 7/8) Philippines Welcomes Second Warship From U.S.: Philippine President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday led the welcome ceremonies for the country’s second Hamilton-class cutter from the U.S., a warship that was acquired as part of efforts to modernize the nation’s naval force in the face of the territorial dispute in the South China Sea. -(PhilStar 7/8) China includes South China Sea in patrol route

-(Manila Standard Today 7/8) China to Asean: Careful on sea conduct: China warned members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Tuesday against “rushing” the formulation of the code of conduct in the South China Sea. -(PhilStar 6/8) Phillippines rejects China's claims, ignores joint exploration

-(The Washington Times 6/8) China’s salami-slicing strategy: Beijing’s favored frontier strategy is pivoted on “salami slicing.” This involves a steady progression of small actions, none of which serves as a casus belli by itself, yet which over time lead cumulatively to a strategic transformation in China’s favor. -(Sudestasiatico 7/8) A legal battle in the South China Sea

-(SCMP 6/8) No one can contain China, scholar says amid territory rows: No one can contain China’s rise, a leading Beijing foreign policy thinker said on Tuesday, warning Manila and Tokyo that they had been mistakenly emboldened by Washington in territorial disputes with his country.-(The Wall Street Journal 7/8) Philippines Welcomes Second Warship From U.S.: Philippine President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday led the welcome ceremonies for the country’s second Hamilton-class cutter from the U.S., a warship that was acquired as part of efforts to modernize the nation’s naval force in the face of the territorial dispute in the South China Sea. -(PhilStar 7/8) China includes South China Sea in patrol route

-(Manila Standard Today 7/8) China to Asean: Careful on sea conduct: China warned members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Tuesday against “rushing” the formulation of the code of conduct in the South China Sea. -(PhilStar 6/8) Phillippines rejects China's claims, ignores joint exploration

-(The Washington Times 6/8) China’s salami-slicing strategy: Beijing’s favored frontier strategy is pivoted on “salami slicing.” This involves a steady progression of small actions, none of which serves as a casus belli by itself, yet which over time lead cumulatively to a strategic transformation in China’s favor. -(Sudestasiatico 7/8) A legal battle in the South China Sea

-(SCMP 6/8) No one can contain China, scholar says amid territory rows: No one can contain China’s rise, a leading Beijing foreign policy thinker said on Tuesday, warning Manila and Tokyo that they had been mistakenly emboldened by Washington in territorial disputes with his country.-(Vietnamplus 5/8) Vietnam works with China to boost partnership: Vietnam will do its utmost with the Chinese side to boost their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in a deeper, more practical and effective manner, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has said.

-(Xinhua 5/8) China warns against rush to set code of conduct in South China Sea: The envisaged Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) cannot be set in a rush as it concerns the interests of many countries and lots of work is required, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday. –(SCMP 6/8) Beijing tells Asean to be realistic in hopes for South China Sea code of conduct

-(PhilStar 5/8) China suggests 'win-win' exploration of disputed seas: The most immediate way to resolve the decades-long row in South China Sea is for parties to agree to a joint exploration of the disputed territory, China Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in his visit to Vietnam over the weekend.

-(InterAksyon 5/8) What is the BRP Alcaraz, Philippine second warship, capable of? What is the Philippines’ second warship BRP Ramon Alcaraz capable of in terms of firepower? -(InterAksyon 4/8) Securing the shoals | What must be done?

-(Global Post 5/8) Chinese navy launches new patrol route in the South China Sea: After fortifying its naval outposts in the South China Sea, China has established a maritime surveillance patrol route that covers practically all disputed reefs, shoals and islets in the sea

-(The jakarta post 5/8) ASEAN-China: Connecting two dreams: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s first major task after taking office was to meet with senior ASEAN officials in early April, and he immediately linked the “Chinese Dream” to the “ASEAN Dream”; (Inquirer 5/8) Deal with China? Winner takes all

-(Scmp 5/8) Deep-sea researcher lives the life aquatic: Marine biologist Dr Qiu Jianwen finds a delicate balance between understanding and preserving the country's fragile marine ecosystems; (Business-standard 4/8) Chinese FM says South China Sea disputes could be resolved

-(New states man 4/8) China and Japan: the struggle for supremacy in the East China Sea: History and politics are coming together in a potentially toxic fashion in the East China Sea as China, motivated by memories of Japanese wartime atrocities, agitates for dominance in the region.

-(Brunei times 4/8)alt Philippines acquiring French vessel for South China SeaTHE Philippines said yesterday it is purchasing a surplus French Navy vessel to boost its forces in the South China Sea where it has an ongoing territorial dispute with China.