- (Asahi 29/7) China confirms 1st aircraft carrier, ups ante in South China Sea dispute - It'll support for diplomatic advantage in territorial negotiations over the South China Sea.

-(Wall Street Journal 28/7) China Says Carrier Won't Alter Naval Strategy; (Inquirer 287) Philippine military downplays China’s aircraft carrier- The Armed Forces of the Philippines says there was “no cause for alarm” over China’s first aircraft carrier and the construction of two similar vessels

- (Oil Voice 28/7) Insight: Exploration in South East Asia - A such huge resources may remain undiscovered and if Yes, where might they be?

- (Asia Times Online 28/7) US in ‘denial’ over China’s Pacific strategy: China is close to achieving the same spy satellite capabilities as the United States and making advances in its drone and missile technologies are feeding into US theories that Beijing is pursuing a multi-faceted strategy to reshape the dynamics of military power in Asia. 

- (AFP/Channel News Asia 28/7) China downplays capability of first aircraft carrier: China sought to downplay the capability of its first aircraft carrier on Wednesday, saying the vessel would be used for training and "research", amid concerns over the country's military build-up

-(Israelnationalnews july 27) Clinton Challenges China: 'We Are Here to Stay' - Implicitly opposing the Chinese position that claims the entire South China Sea on historical grounds, Clinton called upon China to produce legal arguments consonant with today's Law of the Sea.

- (Hindustan Times 27/7) China tells US to halt spy plane flights, saying they have "severely harmed" trust between the two countries.

- (Reuters 27/7) China boosts naval power with carrier program: sources: China is building two aircraft carriers as part of a military modernization program that is causing concern among other Asian countries; China protests against U.S. spy flights near its coast: report: China warned that recent U.S. surveillance flights near its coast have severely harmed mutual trust and were a major obstacle to better military ties between the two countries.

- (The Diplomat 26/7) China’s Zero-Sum Game: “…not only have the United States and its allies not tried to hinder China’s growth, they have actually helped provide the CCP a stable regional environment free of charge.”

- (Wall Street Journal 27/7) China Says Aircraft Carrier Only for Research, Training and would not affect its defensive naval strategy.

- (The Nation 28/7) China - like all of us – needs to compromise: we hope, smaller nations like those in Asean can find their common interests to stand up to the big powers on the block.

- (Star Advertiser 27/7) New Philippine warship visiting Pearl Harbor: the warship will patrol the South China Sea close to the disputed Spratly Islands.

- (Inquirer Global Nation 27/7) Why China will not bring the Spratlys issue to the United Nations: Based on applicable international maritime and related laws, China knows that if she petitions the ICJ or the ITLS to affirm  her dubious claim that she owns everything in the South China Sea aka West Philippine Sea — her chances of winning are about as likely as having a snowfall in the Sahara desert.

- (Seattle Times 27/7) Southeast Asia navy chiefs meet amid tensions: Vietnam —Malaysia's naval chief urged Beijing on Wednesday to respect the sovereignty of other claimants in disputed South China Sea waters.

- (AFP/Manila Times 28/7) SE Asian navies seek closer ties amid sea spat: the forum was held for the “purpose of enhancing collaboration, cooperation, among the Asean navies.”

- (Inquirer News 26/7) President Aquino: Philippines to protect ‘what’s ours’: The Philippines is ready to use military force to protect “what is ours” in the West Philippine Sea, President Aquino said on Monday amid a deepening rift with China.

- (Malaya 27/7) Aquino meets US Pacific Command chief: Details of the meeting were not disclosed but the dispute on the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) was expected to be raised.

- (Manila Bulletin 26/7) US admiral here for visit: the commander of the United States Pacific Command Admiral Robert F. Willard is now in the Philippines for a three-day visit to discuss the strategic Philippine-US partnership and a broad range of security issues concerning the region.

- (Straits Times 26/7) Japan, S. Korea, US in tune on sea talks: JAPAN has agreed to stand with South Korea and the United States on thorny territorial disputes in the South China Sea, but political instability at home could scuttle the trilateral cooperation.

- (Daily Yomiuri 26/7) Japan must support ASEAN on rules to deal with China: Japan and the United States need to closely cooperate with ASEAN nations in patiently urging China to agree on efforts to make more effective rules.

- (Inquirer 26/7) Strong warning to China: In the strongest warning so far to China,  President Aquino declared in his State of the Nation Address on Monday  that the Philippines is ready to defend its territorial  claims in the South China Sea (renamed West Philippine Sea) with beefed-up military forces.

- (Financial Times 25/7) Chinese fighters ‘repel’ US aircraft: “Two Chinese fighter jets crossed an unofficial dividing line in the Taiwan Strait late last month in pursuit of a US spy aircraft, according to defence sources in Taipei and Beijing.”

- (The Interpreter 25/7) US-China: Sunny side up: Leavening the geopolitical agonising over China's rise with a real understanding of the economic benefits in terms of peace and stability and the prospect for political change in China tomorrow — strikes everyone's interests.

- (Jakarta Post 25/7) Editorial: The South China Sea theater: No legally binding security arrangements emerged after Saturday’s ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), which resembled a confidence-building session more than anything.

- (VOA 25/7) ASEAN Optimistic About Regional Security, Challenges Remain: The group's leaders say the progress demonstrates that a consensus-based approach to pursuing regional peace can be effective.

- (Oil & Gas Journal 25/7) Watching The World: ASEAN, China face off: Eyeing problems for the region's oil and gas industry, ministers of ASEAN were urged to speed up talks with China on a code of conduct for the South China Sea.

- (Inquirer 25/7) The Spratlys by 

- (ABS CBN 26/7) China wants talks with Philippines over Spratlys: China is ready to sit down with the Philippines in one-on-one talks regarding their ownership dispute over portions of the Spratly Islands, Beijing's envoy to Manila said Monday.

- (Japan Times 25/7) China-ASEAN pact important to Japan: Rising tensions risk stability in key sea corridor

- (Today Online 25/7) Clinton calls for global response to rising South China Sea risks: Hillary Clinton said "the rest of the world needs to weigh in" on resolving disputes over the South China Sea, where confrontation threatens to disrupt one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.

- (VOA 24/7) U.S., Indonesia Urge Further Action on South China Sea: “U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Indonesian Foreign Minister Marti Natalegawa discussed the issue in a bilateral meeting in Bali”; 

South China Sea Dispute Continues to Dominate ASEAN Forum: ASEAN leaders say progress has been made in developing guidelines to help resolve conflicting claims to oil and gas reserves in the South China Sea.

- (Bernama 24/7) Guidelines Will Pave Way Towards Preventive Diplomacy: Malaysia believes that the guidelines to implement DOC of parties in South China Sea will pave the way for collective efforts towards preventive diplomacy and confidence-building measures in the region.

-(State.gov 22/7) US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton: The South China Sea; "The United States is concerned that recent incidents in the South China Sea threaten the peace and stability"; "We also call on all parties to clarify their claims in the South China Sea in terms consistent with customary international law, including as reflected in the Law of the Sea Convention. Consistent with international law, claims to maritime space in the South China Sea should be derived solely from legitimate claims to land features.

- (Bloomberg 25/7) Global Response to S. China Sea Risks Needed: “U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said ‘the rest of the world needs to weigh in’ on resolving disputes over the South China Sea, where confrontation threatens to disrupt one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.”

- (Jakarta Post 24/7) South China Sea disputes need urgent work: Clinton. "We ... urge that ASEAN move quickly, I would even add urgently, to adopt a code of conduct that will avoid any problems in the vital sea lanes and territorial waters of the South China Sea."