-(PhilStar 27/3) Phl, US say ' further progress' achieved in latest defense talks: The Philippines and the United States (US) ended Wednesday the seventh round of talks on a proposed agreement on enhanced defense cooperation but specific details of the discussions were kept under wraps. -(PhilStar 28/3) Germany reiterates support for peaceful resolution of sea row 

-(Atimes 27/3) New ties, new risks in the South China Sea: After nearly a year of intense bilateral negotiations, the Philippines and United States have overcome previous stumbling blocks and reached a "consensus" on the contours of a new defense pact.

-(ABS-CBN News 27/3) Philippines insists on rule of law in China dispute: An official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday said Philippines is advocating rule of law in its arbitration case against China with regard to the dispute over the South China Sea. –(PhilStar 27/3) Philippines to challenge China sea claim before UN

-(SCMP 27/3) Downturn in China-Malaysia ties only temporary, say analysts: Diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia have frayed since Beijing accused Kuala Lumpur of withholding information about the missing airplane but the tension will be temporary, analysts say.

-(Xinhua 26/3) China slams Philippines' South China Sea court application: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei on Wednesday urged the Philippines to stop wrongdoing on the South China Sea dispute. 

-(The Washington Times 26/3) Inside China’s secret three-front war vs. the U.S.: China is waging political warfare against the United States as part of a strategy to drive the U.S. military out of Asia and control seas near its coasts, according to a Pentagon-sponsored study.

-(PhilStar 26/3) Obama reiterates support for Phl security: President Barack Obama on Monday reiterated his support for the security of the Philippines in its dispute with China over some islets and shoals in the South China Sea. -(The Diplomat 25/3) Obama, Xi Meet at Nuclear Security Summit 

-(Vietnamplus 26/3) Vietnamese PM Dung meets other leaders at nuclear security summit: Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte have pledged to speed up negotiations for the early signing of a Vietnam-Netherlands strategic partnership on sustainable farming and food security. –(Vietnamplus 25/3) Southeast Asia judged increasingly important on world stage

-(Philippine Daily Inquirer 25/3) US ship arrives in Subic Bay: Amid the maritime dispute between the Philippines and China over the South China Sea, a USS Michigan (SSGN 727), an Ohio-class guided-missile submarine, arrived Tuesday in Subic Bay, Zambales for a “routine port call.” –(Solar News 24/3) US, PH resume talks on defense pact

-(ABS-CBN News 25/3) China warned PH of consequences: Philippine former Interior and Local Government Secretyary Rafael Alunan reveals China had warned the Philippines of consequences once it files its memorial with the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea or ITLOS on March 30th.

-(Canergie 24/3) MH370 Challenge for Asia-Pacific Security: Two weeks search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane was an example of both impressive regional cooperation and discouraging limits of such cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

-(Reuters 24/3) Xi tells U.S. to be 'fair' on China's maritime disputes: Chinese President Xi Jinping told U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday that the United States should adopt a "fair" attitude on the East and South China Seas, where China is involved in a series of increasingly bitter territorial disputes.

-(CPV 24/3) Expanding maritime cooperation between Vietnam and Norway: Marine and maritime industry, oil and gas, information-technology and hydropower continue to be key sectors in which Vietnam and Norway have been expanding cooperation.

-(Intellasia 24/3) Philippines to spend $524mn on military aircraft: The Philippines said Friday it will buy $524.7 million worth of aircraft from South Korea and Canada as part of a military upgrade amid territorial disputes with superpower neighbour China; (Philstar 24/3) Saving face, and the bully that is China

-(The-japan-news 24/3) Japan-China COLD WAR 11 / U.S. struggles to offer single voice in Asia policy: The administration of U.S. President Barack Obama has made known its intention to “rebalance” its diplomatic policy toward Asia through greater military and economic focus on the region; (Manila standard today 24/3) Let’s all welcome Obama, but no bases, no RH please

-(Eurasia review 23/3) South China Sea: Beijng’s Salami Slicing StrategySTRATEGY: The Second Thomas Shoal is the latest addition to Beijing’s ‘Salami Slicing’ strategy of slowly acquiring small reefs and islands to consolidate its contested claim; (CNTV 23/4) China to increase environmental monitoring in Diaoyu Islands