-(PhilStar 12/4) US carrier patrols South China Sea, docks in Manila: The Theodore Roosevelt, with her embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 and escorted by guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), then dropped anchor at the mouth of Manila Bay.

-(Reuters 9/4) Philippines eyes oil, gas deal with China in SCS within months: The Philippines identified two areas where joint exploration for oil and gas may be undertaken with China.

-(The Wall Street Journal 9/4) China Installed Military Jamming Equipment on Spratly Islands: Disclosure comes as Chinese military conducts what U.S. officials describe as its largest military exercise to date in SCS.

alt-(National Interest 9/4) Aircraft Carrier Faceoff: American and Chinese Carriers Both in SCS: China has deployed its Liaoning aircraft carrier with escorting warships near Hainan Island as the US Navy’s Theodore Roosevelt strike group enters SCS.