-(VOA News 29/8) Hagel Concerned About Possible South China Sea Conflict: U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says he is concerned about the possibility of further conflicts resulting from rising tensions in disputed Asian waters.

-(The Bangkok Post 29/8) China won't 'shy away' from sea row: Beijing will "not shy away from problems" in disputed Asian waters, its foreign minister said Thursday at a meeting between China and Southeast Asian countries. –(The Wall Street Journal 29/8) China Rejects Multilateral Intervention in South China Sea Disputes

-(Xinhua 29/8) Chinese DM: freedom of navigation in South China Sea unaffected:  The Chinese Defense Ministry on Thursday warned relevant countries against seeking private interests under the guise of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. -(PhilStar 30/8) China reiterates rejection of UN arbitration on sea row:

-(Vietnamplus 29/8) ASEAN, China celebrate decade-long ties: A Special Foreign Ministers’ Meeting took place in Beijing on August 29 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China.

-(Asia Sentinel 29/8) Seeking Peace in the South China Sea: Any conflict in the region would involve the US. Would the US take part?

-(Vietnamplus 29/8) China’s stamps violate Vietnam’s Hoang Sa island sovereignty: The Department of Posts under the Ministry of Information and Communications on August 28 officially objected to China Post’s issuance of stamps that violate Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago. –(Vietnamplus 28/8) Vietnam attends ADMM Retreat in Brunei

-(Channel NewsAsia 29/8) Hagel issues warning over Asian maritime disputes: Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel warned fellow defence ministers on Thursday that a growing number of maritime incidents and tensions in disputed Asian waters increase the risk of a dangerous international confrontation. –(The Wall Street Journal 28/8) U.S., Asian States Meet Over South China Sea

-(The Malay Mail Online 29/8) Malaysia splits with Asean claimants over South China Sea threat: Malaysia differed with fellow Southeast Asian claimants in the South China Sea on the threat posed by China, dismissing concerns about patrols off its coast.

-(Xinhua 28/8) China, Vietnam pledge to resolve dispute in South China Sea: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Binh Minh in Beijing on Wednesday when they pledged to resolve the dispute between the two countries in the South China Sea.

-(University of the Philippines 28/8) Managing the Disputes in the South China Sea: Can ASEAN Take the Bull by the Horns? The ASEAN ministerial meetings  in Bandar Seri Bagawan on April 24-25, and the recent consultations between the ASEAN leaders and their Chinese counterparts give us reason for optimism about the future of ASEAN cooperation in managing the South China Sea disputes.

-(Vietnamplus 28/8) Vietnam seeks further defence ties with Philippines: Vietnamese Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh has asked the Filipino President to further promote defence ties between the two countries. –(Vietnamplus 28/8) Exhibition deepens people’s understanding of sovereignty

-(PhilStar 28/8) Philippine troops to avoid fighting amid sea row with China: The Philippine military will stick to a "no confrontation" policy even as it gets more weapons and looks forward to a larger U.S. military presence in the country as territorial disputes intensify in the South China Sea, the armed forces' chief said Wednesday. –(PhilStar 28/8) UN tribunal gives first order on Phl's case vs China

-(The Wall Street Journal 27/8) U.S. to Stress Common Goals With Asia Leaders in Brunei: U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel kicks off two days of talks with Asian defense ministers in Brunei on Wednesday with the U.S. determined to continue to push to remake the gathering into a more robust defense organization. –(Manila Bulletin 27/8) Stronger Bilateral PH-US military cooperation assured

-(The World Outline 27/8) South China Sea dispute: new battleground for US-China interests: For over a decade China has been involved in maritime boundary disputes with the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. With the recent pivot to Asia by the US, the South China Sea has become the new battleground for US-China interests. -(GMA Network 27/8) 'Constructive' approach to reporting PHL-China dispute sought

-(Vietnamplus 27/8) US affirms to continue re-balancing ties with Asia-Pacific: US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said on August 26th that his country will continue the re-balancing of its relationship in Asia-Pacific region. –(Vietnamplus 26/8) Exhibition highlights Vietnam’s sea, island sovereignty

-(PhilStar 27/8) Vietnam, Philippines vow defense cooperation in disputed seas: Vietnamese defense minister General Phung Quang Thanh and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Monday discussed defense cooperation on the two countries' "mutual concern" on the situation over the South China Sea. –(QDND 26/8) Vietnamese Defence Minister visits the Philippines, Brunei

-(SCMP 27/8)Tokyo ‘would be key player’ in any Asian conflict: Japanese defence minister issues warning and accuses the mainland of exploiting difficulties. –(People’s Daily 27/8) Chief of Australian Navy visits South China Sea Fleet

-(Nationmultimedia 26/8) China sparks rekindling of US-Philippines love affair: Bullying behaviour by Beijing and its none-too-subtle designs on the Spratly Islands has opened the door to a ramping up of defence ties between the US and Manila 

-(Asia Journal of Global Studies) The Tragedy of Vietnamese Fishermen: The Forgotten Faces of Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea

-(Latimes 26/8) U.S., China and an unthinkable war: Both have planned for a conflict they hope to avoid; (Japan focus 26/8) MANILA, BEIJING, AND UNCLOS:  A TEST CASE?

-(Stasia report 26/8) South-east Asia military programmes get more US funds: 50% rise in grants, loans for defence reflects region's rising prominence; (Phil star 26/8) Phl, US chart new military direction for 21st century

-(Maritime security 25/8) US, Philippines vow freedom of navigation amid Asia sea rows: The United States and the Philippines have vowed to maintain freedom of navigation in a Southeast Asia increasingly beset by maritime territorial rows, the two military allies said.

-(AFP 25/8) Pentagon chief to stress US 'pivot' in SE Asia tour: The Pentagon chief's week-long trip is part of a concerted effort by Washington to rebalance America's strategic priorities towards the Asia-Pacific.