- (Malaya 22/9) Aquino reiterates Spratlys policy on friendly China ties:  “As for the Philippines, we wish to maintain good neighborly relations with China. In our competing claims in the West Philippine Sea, we have already drawn the line between what is disputed and non-disputed in terms of where we would never relinquish our sovereign rights“.

- (The National 22/9) Hunt for oil raises stakes between Asian rivals in South China Sea: Tensions are rising in the waters of the South China Sea where the competition for oil and regional dominance between India and China is entering a potentially dangerous phase.

- (Time of India 22/9) Debate: China openly warns India: China on Thursday (September 15) asked India and other countries to refrain from oil exploration in maritime areas offered by Vietnam in the South China Sea, claiming that it enjoys "indisputable sovereignty" there. "I would like to reaffirm that China enjoys indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea and the island. China's stand is based on historical facts and international law," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Jiang Yu told a media briefing in Beijing without directly referring to India.

- (Wall Street Journal 22/9) The India-Vietnam Axis: New Delhi sees Hanoi as a counterweight to Beijing, in the same way as Beijing sees Islamabad.

- (Korean Time 21/9) New law for Asian sea necessary: The most frequent sea and peace articles have come from the South China Sea this year. Conflicts are rampant between China and countries belonging to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ― mainly Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.

- (Business Insider 20/9) India Is Preparing To Sell BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missiles To Vietnam: Tensions between China, India and Vietnam just took an interesting turn. The Asian Age today reports that India has entered negotiations with Vietnam to sell its first BrahMos cruise missiles to an outside country.

- (Asian Age 20/9) India to sell BrahMos missile to Vietnam: The BrahMos Aerospace —the Indo-Russian joint venture that has developed the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile — is keen to sell the missile to Vietnam with which India is developing a strong strategic relationship, sources have confirmed.

- (Phil Star 21/9) Phl, Japan to discuss Spratly issue: The Philippines and Japan will have an “exchange of notes” when the two countries discuss the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea issue during President Aquino’s Tokyo visit on Sept.25-28, Japanese Ambassador Toshinao Urabe said yesterday.

- (Economic Time 20/9) Japan calls for South China Sea code of conduct: Japan called for a stronger code of conductto bind rival claimants to waters and islands in the strategically important South China Sea, its envoy to the Philippines said Tuesday.

- (Indian Express 20/9) Do not to infringe sovereignty in S China Sea: China to India: Taking strong exception to India going ahead with the oil exploration programme in the blocks claimed by Vietnam in the South China Sea, China on Monday raised its pitch saying any exploration activity in its coast would amount to "infringement" of its sovereignty.

- (Manila Bulletin 19/9) Philippines and U.S. visit China: China is booming and the Philippines is “open for business.” Potential two-way trade and investment figures are being headlined in the daily press. And it does look like a successful culmination of President Aquino’s 5-day trip – August 30-Sept. 3rd – and a favorable economic future for increased trade and investment between the two countries.

- (Hindustan Times 20/9) China steps up offensive, says oil hunt illegal: Citing national interest, China on Monday upped the ante against exploration of oil and gas in the South China Sea by India's ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL), saying any such project without Chinese approval would be illegal and invalid.

- (Washington Post 19/9) China gives muted response to U.S.-Taiwan arms deal: China’s foreign ministry spokesman said Monday that Beijing “firmly opposes” the Obama administration’s plans to upgrade Taiwan’s aging fleet of F-16 fighter jets, but the measured tone suggested Chinese leaders may want to avoid sparking a full-scale confrontation with Washington over the issue.

- (Time World 19/9) China Criticizes New U.S.-Taiwan Arms Deal: China expressed its opposition Monday to reports that the United States has decided to upgrade Taiwan's existing fleet of F-16 fighter jets, even though it apparently rejected the island's bid for a more advanced version of the plane.

- (Time CNN 19/9) Is This How Wars Start? India and China Now Feud Over the South China Sea: India should bear in mind that its actions in the South China Sea will push China to the limit. China cherishes the Sino-Indian friendship, but this does not mean China values it above all else… China has been peaceful for so long that some countries doubt whether it will stick to its stated bottom line. China should remind them of how clear this line really is.

- (Website of Chinese Foreign Ministry 16/9) Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Jiang Yu's Regular Press Conference on September 15, 2011:

Q: It is reported that the Indian Government has rejected China's representations on an Indian company's joint oil exploration with Vietnam in the South China Sea. Please confirm. Does China's claim on the South China Sea violates the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea?

A: I have not heard about the situation that you mentioned. I would like to reiterate that China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters. China's claim on the South China Sea is grounded on sufficient historical and jurisprudential evidence. We are committed to peacefully resolving disputes over territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea through negotiation and consultation between parties concerned on the basis of historical facts and international law. We have contributed to the peace, stability, security and order of the South China Sea.

We hope that relevant countries can respect China's stand, rights and interests and refrain from taking unilateral actions to complicate and magnify the issue. Countries outside the region should respect and support the efforts of countries within the region to resolve disputes through bilateral negotiation.

We oppose any other country's oil and gas exploration activity in the waters under China's jurisdiction and hope relevant foreign company do not involve itself in the South China Sea dispute.

I want to stress that it is in the common interests and should be the common goal of all countries within the region to address the dispute appropriately, bridge differences, enhance mutual trust, expand cooperation and maintain regional peace and stability of the South China Sea.

China's sovereignty, rights and relevant claims over the South China Sea have been formed in the long course of history and upheld by the Chinese government. Our sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea is based on discovery, preoccupation as well as long-term, sustained and effective management. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea does not entitle any country to extend its exclusive economic zone or continental shelf to the territory of another country, and it does not restrain or deny a country's right which is formed in history and abidingly upheld.

- (Time of India 19/9) Oceans, the new theatre for India-China competition: The oceans are the new theatre of India-China competition, but one with possible security implications. 

- (Inquirer 19/9) Aquino to raise Spratlys in Japan visit: President Benigno Aquino III will raise certain issues concerning the disputed West Philippine Sea region when he meets Japanese leaders during a visit to Tokyo later this month, Malacañang said.

- (Diplomat 18/9) India’s South China Sea Warning: An influential Chinese Communist Party-run newspaper has warned that ‘every means possible’ should be used to stop India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Videsh engaging in exploration projects in the South China Sea.

- (Washington Post 18/9) In South China Sea, a dispute over energy: When China’s largest offshore petroleum producer launched a $1 billion oil rig this summer from Shanghai, Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban, the commander of Philippine military forces 1,500 miles away in the South China Sea, began preparing for trouble.

- (Truth Dive 18/9) China angered by Indo- Vietnam pact for oil exploration: China officially has not reacted to India’s ONGC move to ignore the former’s objection to go in for oil exploration with Vietnam in the South China Sea. 

- (Economic Times 18/9) India's entry into South China Sea aimed at countering China: Chinese analysts: Watching warily India's decision to go ahead with oil exploration cooperation with Vietnam in the South China Sea despite objections from Beijing, Chinese analysts say it is New Delhi's counter-strategy to checkmate the forays being made by China into its neighbourhood.

- (Eurasia Review 18/9) South China Sea: India Should Avoid Rushing In Where Even US Excercises Caution – Analysis: China has reacted — moderately through a spokesperson of its Foreign Office and somewhat virulently through the Party-controlled “Global Times” — to reports that India has been considering an offer from Vietnam to award oil and gas exploration bids over two blocks in the South China Sea to India’s ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL).