- (Financial Times 12/10) Clinton walks tightrope to forge new role in Asia-Pacific: One of the most important tasks for the US over the next decade, she wrote in Foreign Policy magazine, “will be to lock in a substantially increased investment, diplomatic, economic, strategic and otherwise, in the Asia-Pacific”.

- (New York Times 12/10) China and Vietnam Move to Reduce Tensions in South China Sea: announced an agreement on Wednesday on a series of steps to reduce tensions in the South China Sea, where rival claims to islands and undersea minerals have been a source of frequent friction.

- (Washington Post 12/10) China, Vietnam sign deal to try to resolve dispute over South China Sea:  the six-point agreement was signed by China’s Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun and his Vietnamese counterpart Ho Xuan Son.

- (WSJ 12/10) Vietnam, India Stand Firm on China Row: India and Vietnam, whose leaders meet today in New Delhi, are squaring up for a fight with China over the right of a state-owned Indian oil and gas company to explore in disputed waters near Vietnam.

- (Bloomberg 12/10) India, Vietnam Trying to Clear Tata Project, President Sang Says: India and Vietnam are trying to clear Tata Steel Ltd.’s proposed $5 billion factory in the Southeast Asian nation, delayed for more than four years by regulatory hurdles.

- (Phil Star 10/10) US revs up all-round comeback to Asia: Campbell: "The United States is in the process now of one of the most important transitions, that is, repositioning and rebalancing American foreign policy priorities in our history," 

- (Council on Foreign Relations 11/10) Growing U.S. Role in South China Sea: by Joshua Kurlantzick.

- (Monster and Critics 11/10) Germany, Vietnam sign strategic partnership during Merkel visit: The agreements covered politics, trade and investment, justice, environmental protection and education; China's Hu urges Vietnam to jointly develop disputed sea: 'China is willing to jointly develop areas of the South China Sea with Vietnam,' state television quoted Hu as telling Trong.

- (Washington Post 11/10) Germany’s Merkel visits Vietnam to boost trade amid European debt crisis: Merkel spoke to reporters in Hanoi after meeting with her Vietnamese counterpart, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, as part of a two-day visit to boost trade ties with the Communist country; Can the U.S. restore its might in the Asia-Pacific region?: In the better part of a decade that the United States has needed to negotiate, ponder, renegotiate, fight over, ponder some more and finally ratify a free-trade agreement with South Korea, a lot has changed in this neighborhood.

- (Foreign Policy 11/10) America's Pacific Century: The future of politics will be decided in Asia, not Afghanistan or Iraq, and the United States will be right at the center of the action.

- (Diplomat 10/10) Obama’s B Grade on ASEAN: “Ultimately it’s clear that although the Obama administration has made significant progress on Asia as a whole, there are some key gaps that need addressing if the United States is to secure comprehensive, long-term engagement with Asia. It’s clear that on this, as with so much else, Obama will need a second term to succeed.”

- (WSJ 10/10) The Taiwanese Disconnect: If Washington is worried about Beijing's claims in the South China Sea, it can't abandon Taipei's defense.

- (Reuters 10/10) India courts Myanmar, Vietnam amid China tension: giving New Delhi the opportunity to forge closer economic and security ties with two countries encountering testy relations with India's giant regional rival, China.

- (Taipei Times 10/10) Beware of the ‘Chinese culture’ pill:  What they want is to create a “one China” in which people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait are part of one big family. To achieve this end, “Chinese culture” has become a tool for unification and turned into a sugarcoated poison pill.

- (Times of India 8/10) India looks east, to Vietnam and Myanmar: India is putting its Look East policy in high gear with New Delhi preparing to welcome two important heads of state next week - Vietnamese president Truong Tan Sang and Myanmarese president Thein Sein. They will hold talks with PM Manmohan Singh and sign agreements.

- (The Hindu 10/10) India, China to resume defence dialogue early next year: Plan to hold talks on border issue before year-end.

- (First Post 9/10) Vietnam takes dragon by the fangs, says India can explore: “We welcome foreign companies to work with Vietnamese partners in oil and gas projects on the continental shelf and exclusive economic zone of Vietnam and in conformity with Vietnamese laws,” Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang said.

- (Phil Star 10/10) Phl, Vietnam agree to protect Spratlys marine ecosystem: “This is more than a wish list. It is a commitment to steer Philippines-Vietnam relations towards a more meaningful and deeper cooperation,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said.