-(Straitstimes 29/12) South China Sea dispute puts Australia in a strategic bind: Like many Asian countries, Canberra is sending mixed signals to Washington about what it expects and wants from US-China ties, but it is now time to be more frank.
-(Deccanherald 29/12) China irked at India's South China Sea stand, particularly in reference to the row in the joint statement issued after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe earlier this month.
-(The Diplomat 28/12) Vietnam Reveals New Drone for Patrolling the South China Sea: The drone prototype will conduct flight tests over the South China Sea in 2016.
-(Nikkei Asian Review 28/12) For supremacy at sea, China plays the long game: The big question is whether countries in Asia and elsewhere are prepared to face up to the lonely power's ploy
-(Nationalinterest 28/12) The Ugly Truth About Avoiding War With China: Great power transitions are dangerous. If outright war is not in the cards, a long cold war is quite plausible.
-(Radio Australia 28/12) 'Armed' Chinese ship near disputed East China Sea isles, Japan says: It was the first time an apparently armed Chinese Coast Guard vessel had "entered the territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands".
-(Japantimes 28/12) Presidential race front-runner says Taiwan can’t ‘be bound’ to China: “That’s what worries us most about the past eight years. That’s not good for our economy or our security.” DPP Chairwoman and presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen said.
-(People's Daily Online 28/12) J-15 carrier-based fighters conduct training on the Liaoning: According to a military expert, the Liaoning will be capable of combat soon.
-(Bloomberg 28/12) China's Slowdown in Context: China on path for the weakest era of growth since the 1970s.
