- (The Diplomat  18/7) Why China Wants South China Sea: “It’s clear that China’s claims and recent assertiveness have increased tensions in this key body of water. Yet while most attention has focused on Beijing’s appetite for fishery and energy resources, from a submariner’s perspective, the semi-closed sea is integral to China’s nuclear strategy. And without understanding the nuclear dimension of the South China Sea disputes, China’s maritime expansion makes little sense”; America’s ‘Munich Moment’?: “Another way of looking at the South China Sea, then, is this: has Beijing built up a similarly unambiguous record of aggression, rendering any compromise between the United States and China a sellout of friendly Southeast Asian governments—a result Washington ought to foresee and avert? AndChina Daily’s feedback: America's 'Munich moment'? “It seems unlikely the United States will appoint itself spokesperson for Asian governments in the South China Sea, according to James Holmes, associate professor of strategy at the USNavalWarCollege, in an article on the website of The Diplomat on July 17, 2011”.

- (AFP 18/7) Filipinos fly flag in South China Sea: Residents are attracted there by the government-provided jobs and housing, as well as the free provisions of essentials such as rice, cooking oil, sugar, noodles and canned food.”

-  (GMA News 17/7) Acquisition of PHL’s biggest warship won’t alarm China — Palace: the impending arrival of the Philippines’ newest and biggest warship, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, which will patrol areas near the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), is not likely to agitate China.

- (Project Syndicate 14/7) Building Pax Asia-Pacifica, by Fidel V. Ramos:  a more comprehensive Pax Asia-Pacifica built on inclusiveness and burden-sharing will be durable only if it is based on a balance of mutual benefits rather than on the balance of power.

- (M&C 17/7) PREVIEW: South China Sea disputes on front burner at regional meet: “Natalegawa said the Bali meeting would work on drawing up a more binding code of conduct. He said ‘I’m not pessimistic that we can make significant progress if all sides have goodwill,’. ASEAN wants to complete the negotiation for the code of conduct before a summit in November.”

- (Israel National News 17/7) Tensions Between Washington and Beijing on Many Issues: the sensitivity persists as can be gleaned from a number of recent rough spots in the relationship although China and the United States have made attempts to dampen down the tensions between them.

- (Korea Times 17/7) Seoul-Beijing Defense ties: South Korean and Chinese defense ministers have agreed to strengthen military cooperation between the two countries.

- (Govtrack 15/7) Text of H. Res. 352: Calling for a peaceful and collaborative resolution of maritime territorial disputes in the South China Sea