-(ABS-CBN News 15/3) New Philippine envoy seeks to improve China ties: The Philippines dispatched a new ambassador to China on Friday with a mandate to improve ties amid a festering territorial dispute between the South China Sea neighbours, the foreign department said. The Sino-Philippine maritime row: International Arbitration and the South China Sea

 

-(The Economist 15/3) Dragons unite: To protect its maritime interests, China is setting up a civilian coastguard. China completes South China Sea patrol

-(QDND 14/3) Vietnam wants stronger ASEAN-Japan defence ties: Vietnamese Deputy Defence Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh has expressed his hope that ASEAN member nations and Japan will enhance links to ensure maritime security and comply with international law.

-(PhilStar 15/3) Philippines hopes to build mutual trust with new Chinese leadership: The Philippines will continue to “seek all opportunities to help build a climate of mutual trust and cooperation” with China following the formal assumption of Xi Jinping as its new president.

 -(Taiwan News 13/3) Taiwan discovers gas hydrate in South China Sea: A Taiwanese oceanic research team has discovered gas hydrate deposits in waters south of the Pratas Islands (Dong Sa Islands) during a recent mission to the South China Sea. China using Senkakus dispute to test Japan, U.S.

-(Vietnamplus 13/3) Prime Minister meets with Thai, Myanmar leaders: They voiced their support for ASEAN’s stance stated in the Declaration on Six-Point Principles on the East Sea, relating to the maintenance of peace, stability, and safe and free navigation in the East Sea. Obama to raise Philippines-China tussles at Asia summits

-(Channel NewsAsia 13/3) Japan seeks defence ties with ASEAN amid China rows: Japan on Wednesday called for stronger security ties with Southeast Asia as Tokyo looks to boost alliances at a time of growing territorial tensions with China. Japan looks to ASEAN as islands row simmers

-(The Diplomat 13/3) A U.S. Naval Blockade of China?: If a reliance on nuclear deterrence against China is disproportionate or simply not credible, if conventional Air-Sea Battle is based on uncertain judgments about risk and political will, and if a blockade would be prone to global economic and diplomatic blowback, then what are the arrows that really count in America's strategic quiver in a contested Asia? Obama vows discussions on territory issues

-(Gmanetwork 13/3) Obama to raise maritime issues at Asia summits: US President Barack Obama pledged Tuesday to bring up maritime disputes boiling between China and its neighbors at the US-ASEAN and East Asia summits in Brunei in October.

 -(Eastasia forum 13/3) The Sino–Japanese battle for hearts and minds over the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands: Both China and Japan have stepped up their public diplomacy efforts in order to gain sympathy from the international community in their dispute over the Diaoyu/Senkaku islands.

-(Philstar 13/3) Obama urges end to Asia's maritime disputes: President Barack Obama is urging Asian nations involved in maritime disputes to abide by the "rule of law and international standards" to ensure that conflict can avoided.

-(Channel new sasia 12/3) China plans to survey disputed islands: Beijing plans to send a survey team to land on small East China Sea islands at the centre of a bitter territorial dispute with Japan

-(Asia Times 12/3) More fuel to South China Sea disputes: The mystery that remains is why China has mounted such a robust challenge to the Law of the Sea regime and de facto abandoned the "peaceful rise" scenario that it so diligently cultivated in the decade leading up to 2008. Taiwan strengthening patrols over territorial waters

-(China Daily 12/3) US seeks cooperation with Brunei on South China Sea: US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday that his country looks forward to working with Brunei on issues like the South China Sea, energy and climate change. Battle of the South China Sea charts

-(Bangkokpost 11/3) India sees dialogue as way to ease regional tensions: Dialogue might be the best answer for Asean member countries to ease their tensions and to promote stronger relationship in the region, India has suggested.

 -(Scmp 10/3) Coastguard, marine surveillance to be unified under single body: The State Oceanic Administration will take over control of the coastguard from the public security ministry, fisheries patrols from the agriculture ministry, and customs’ marine anti-smuggling functions. China to unify maritime enforcement agencies amid disputes

-(Indian express 10/3) China deploys chopper along with ship to patrol S China Sea: China for the first time deployed a marine surveillance unit with a helicopter to carry out patrolling and observation missions near the contested islands in the South China Sea.

-(Want china times 10/3) Military conflict in East, South China seas unlikely: Taiwan defense ministry: But that accidental clashes were possible.

-(East asia forum 10/3) How can Japan navigate the Senkaku dispute and China’s rise?: Two centuries ago, Napoleon Bonaparte is said to have warned against waking up China. Japan is now experiencing the true meaning of this remark