-(Eurasia review 20/12) ASEAN Region: India Needs To Stand Strategically Tall: Indian Navy Document entitled ‘Freedom to Use the Seas: India’s Maritime Military Strategy’ in 2007 asserts that India’s area of interest “extends from North of the Arabian Sea to South China Sea.” 

-(Asahi 20/12) In China's shadow, ASEAN leaders look to India for maritime security: Southeast Asian nations and India vowed on Dec. 20 to step up cooperation on maritime security, a move that comes amid tension with China in the potentially oil- and gas-rich South China Sea.

-(The diplomat 20/12) Small Navy, Strong Navy: Lesser powers should refuse to despair about their maritime prospects. They should design their fleets as creatively as possible, taking advantage of the home-field advantage all nations enjoy in their immediate environs. 

-(People daily 20/12) South China Sea Fleet holds joint training

-(Nationmultimedia 20/12) South China Sea disputes: A choke point for Asean?: While the US tried to portray the South China Sea as a major regional crisis, outgoing Chinese premier Hu Jintao, who also joined the summit, showed no interest in discussing any issue related disputed islands.

-(WSJ 20/12) BP to Sell Stake in South China Sea Gas Field to Kuwait's KFPEC: LONDON--U.K. oil major BP PLC (BP) agreed Wednesday to sell its 34.3% stake in the Yacheng gas field located in the China South Sea to state-owned Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company for $304 million.

-(Timesofindia 19/12) Manila hails Navy chief stand on South China Sea: Navy chief, Admiral D K Joshi's recent comment on the South China Sea may not have warmed hearts in China, or in the South Block, but they have bolstered India's standing among Asean countries.

-(Washington times 19/12) Inside China: PRC paper calls Philippines a ‘clown’: The People’s Daily, the official mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, on Dec. 13 published an editorial that lambasted the Philippines with words that can be described as anything but diplomatic and cordial.

-(CSIS 18/2012) Understanding India’s Interest in the South China Sea: Getting into the Seaweeds: The Indian Navy chief, Admiral D.K. Joshi, has staked India’s claims in the waters of the South China Sea much more powerfully than the government by recently suggesting that with the security of the nation’s economic assets at stake in South China Sea.

-(Dnaindia 18/12) India stresses on 'freedom of navigation' in South China Sea: India said on Tuesday that Beijing should respect maritime rights of other countries to navigate freely in the much-disputed South China Sea.

-(IISS 2012) US rebalance: potential and limits in Southeast Asia: A central theme of US policy towards Asia during 2012 has been the strengthening of America's military deployments, political relationships and economic partnerships in Southeast Asia.

-(Atimes 18/12) China's rise can be peaceful: So long as China is stable, increasingly prosperous, and most importantly, internationally respected, there is little cause for the US to fear sharing the responsibilities of a global superpower with China. 

-(The diplomat 18/12) U.S. Increasing Military Presence in the Philippines: In a move that prompted a swift and angry response from China, the U.S. has reportedly agreed to substantially increase its military presence in the Philippines

-(Eurasiareview 18/12) South China Sea: Has ASEAN Lost Its Credibility?: Friction between nations is an endemic feature of the international system, but to debunk the ASEAN’s credibility due to it would probably be taking the issue too far; Indo-US Relations: A Reality Check

-(National interest 17/12) China's Bad Diplomacy: Territorial tensions have increased with deceitful PRC moves. 

-(Scmp 17/12) China 'highly concerned' over Japan's direction under Abe: “We are highly concerned about which direction Japan will take,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters at a regular briefing

-(Gmanetwork 17/12) West PHL Sea disputes delaying new oil contracts: The Department of Energy (DOE) on Monday said further delays are seen in awarding of West Philippine Sea oil drilling contracts where territorial disputes with neighboring countries remain unresolved.

-(Indianexpress 17/12) India needs to take stand against China: US professor: India should respond strongly to China's growing assertiveness in South China Sea, an eminent Indian American professor has said.

-(Stripes 17/12) Bilateral distrust between US, China at an all-time high: A real life game of chess is being played out in the Pacific between China, the United States and its allies.

-(Nytimes 17/12) Tokyo to Take a Tougher Line With China: For many Japanese, Abe is the one willing to stand up to Japan’s larger neighbor.

-(Nation multimedia 17/12) Asean welcomes rising India as it looks east: The Asean leaders, as a whole, do not feel threaten by the rise of India. They welcome it and want to see India become more active in engaging them.

-(Reuters 17/12) Japan's next PM Abe must deliver on economy, cope with China: LDP leader Abe, 58, who quit as premier in 2007 citing ill health, has been talking tough in a row with China over uninhabited isles in the East China Sea, although some experts say he may temper his hard line with pragmatism once in office.

-(Reuters 16/12) Disputes over small islands pose big conundrum for U.S: Far away from the United States and usually far down the list of things Washington worries about, the obscure islets at the centre of bitter spats between China and its neighbours have become a flashpoint that could get hotter and embroil America.

-(WSJ 16/12) Abe's Political Heritage Shaped Nationalist Views: Sunday's election victory by his resurgent conservative party gives Shinzo Abe a second chance to run his nation. It also gives the former prime minister another chance to advance his life's mission: freeing Japan from the lingering legacies of World War II.

-(Thejakartapost 16/12) What’s next, China?: Territorial disputes in the South China Sea along with the US’ “Pivot to Asia” military strategy have escalated tensions between China and its neighbors