-(Xinhua 21/6) China raises administrative status of South China Sea islands: The Chinese government has raised the administrative status of Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha islands in the South China Sea from county-level to prefectural-level; China opposes Vietnamese maritime law over sovereignty claim

-(Gmanetwork 21/6) US supports PHL initiative to settle Panatag Shoal dispute in intl court: Washington supports the Philippine initiative to resolve the dispute between Manila and Beijing over Panatag Shoal through legal means; PHL Defense chief: Redeploy ships to Panatag, keep China's claim in check 

-(Reuters 21/6) China tests troubled waters with $1 billion rig for South China Sea: Chinese energy experts say Beijing will eventually move its first ultra-deepwater rig to explore in deeper and more oil-rich waters further south in the South China Sea; China says Vietnam claim to islands "null and void"

-(Thejakartapost 19/6) China ships stay in Panatag Shoa: China has no immediate plans of pulling out its vessels at Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, the Chinese Embassy said Monday; (Cntv 19/6) FM: China never promises vessels withdraw from S. China Sea

-(Philstar 19/6) DFA: China, Phl agreed to leave Panatag lagoon: The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday clarified that China and the Philippines only agreed to stay out of the lagoon of the disputed Panatag Shoal in the West Philippine Sea; (BBC 18/6) China hails Philippines' pullout in South China Sea

-(Nytimes 18/6) Philippines And China Ease Tensions In Rift at Sea: Chinese fishing boats near the disputed Scarborough Shoal off the Philippine coast were heading back to port on Monday after Philippine vessels withdrew from the same area; (WSJ 18/6) Beijing to Withdraw Fishing Boats From Disputed Shoal

-(Canberratimes 18/6) China's thirst for oil and gas: The United States and China, the world's top users of energy to power their economies, are heading in opposite directions; (Philsta 18/6) Waiting for unity

-(Globaltimes 17/6) Philippines pulls vessels from island in S.China Sea: Philippine President Benigno Aquino has ordered home its two ships engaged in a maritime standoff with China over Huangyan Island, citing bad weather, according to the government; (Thediplomat 17/6) PLA and the South China Sea