-(Philippine Daily Inquirer 5/4) ‘Balikatan’ kicks off Friday amid fears over US ‘major attack’: The Philippine-US “Balikatan” (shoulder-to-shoulder) military exercises kick off Friday amid fears that these are being used to prepare for a “major attack” by the US. ‘Balikatan’ comes at ‘crucial time’ vs security threats.

-(PhilStar 5/4) Philippines won’t slow down on international arbitration: In a meeting with US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel at the Pentagon Tuesday, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said Manila is committed to seeing arbitration proceedings to their conclusion.

-(The Huffington Post 4/4) U.S. F/A-18 Warplanes Sent To Philippines For Military Drills: Washington is this week deploying a dozen F/A-18 fighters to the Philippines, the first time it has sent so many of the aircraft there, to take part in annual military drills with a close security ally amid rising tension in the Asia-Pacific region.US military to deploy 20 planes, ship in ‘Balikatan’ 

-(Xinhua 4/4) Chinese official urges stronger China-U.S. dialogue: Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi stressed Thursday that China and the United States should enhance dialogue, mutual trust and cooperation and work together to build a cooperative partnership and explore a new type of inter-power relationship.

-(Gulf News 3/4) Philippines welcomes John Kerry support on South China Sea dispute: The Philippines on Wednesday said it welcomes US Secretary of State John Kerry’s commitment for a peaceful resolution to the South China Sea dispute even if such a solution does not sit well with China. US assures Philippines of stronger defense ties

 -(Vietnamplus 3/4) ASEAN, China to further strategic partnership: ASEAN countries stressed that they are willing to soon carry out official COC negotiations with China , in order to foster mutual understanding and trust for peace, security, stability and cooperation for development in the region. Territorial Disputes Put ASEAN Between Dialogue and the Deep Blue Sea

-(PhilStar 3/4 )US assures Philippines of 'full support' in arbitration bid: The United States has assured the Philippines of its full support in its arbitration case to resolve the territorial dispute with China over a number of areas in the South China Sea. US backs Philippines arbitration on South China sea row

 -(The Washington Post 2/4) Kerry voices deep US concern over South China Sea tension: Secretary of State John Kerry says the U.S. is deeply concerned about tensions in the resource-rich South China Sea and wants to see the territorial disputes there worked out through arbitration. Seminar features Vietnam’s sovereignty over East Sea in Paris

-(Tuoitre 2/4) US presses Asia 'pivot' with Singapore PM: The United States said Monday that it anticipated further military cooperation with Singapore as Washington presses forward its strategy of putting a greater focus on dispute-ridden Asia. US sees further military cooperation with Singapore

-(Manila Standard Today 2/4) Another US navy vessel docks in the Philippines: The USS Tortuga is the latest and the eighth US Navy ship to either make a port call or join military exercise with the Philippine naval forces since the start of the year. ‘US won’t go too far in backing Phl, Japan in sea dispute’

 -(The australian 1/4) Treaty may steer China, Japan to safer waters: SOME commentators, including former prime minister Kevin Rudd, predict war could break out between China and Japan over the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu islands in the East China Sea; (NST 1/4) Keeping faith in the Asean way

 -(The jakarta post 1/4) China’s peaceful rise, community of nations: Zheng Bijian’s strategy: The peaceful rise of a China based on shared interests with other powers, big and small, was an idea proposed by Zheng Bijian some years ago that has been adopted as strategy by the Chinese leadership in preparing 
future policies. 

-(Asahi 31/3) Taiwan vows to step up patrols in East China Sea: Taiwan's president has commissioned a new vessel to beef up patrol in a group of disputed islands in the East China Sea also claimed by China and Japan; (Indian express 31/3)Chinese military publicly assertive under new leadership