Lawyers

• US calls for ASEAN unity on South China Sea ruling, warns China of risking reputation

  The United States said China is risking terrible damage to its reputation should it continue to ignore the impending international court ruling on the claims of South China Sea. US also urged the ASEAN community to comply with the court's decision.

• Malaysian Dep PM says must defend sovereignty in South China Sea dispute

  Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister said the country must defend encroachment of its sovereignty in a veiled swipe at China's territorial claims in the South China Sea, as tensions flared ahead of a regional meeting that Beijing will attend.

• Pentagon chief to visit U.S. aircraft carrier in South China Sea

  U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter will visit a U.S. aircraft carrier transiting the South China Sea on Thursday, a move sure to raise the ire of China as tensions between Washington and Beijing simmer over the disputed waterway.

• ASEAN defense chiefs cancel joint statement over South China Sea row

  Plans for a ceremonial joint statement at the end of a Southeast Asian regional defense forum were dropped on Wednesday after differences between China and the United States over the mention of disputes in the South China Sea in the document.

• International terrorists 'unlikely' responsible for Thai bomb

  International terrorists were not suspected of a bomb attack in Bangkok this week that killed 20 people and China was not the target, Thai authorities said on Thursday, as police said they believed at least 10 plotters were involved.

• China wants no talk of South China Sea at upcoming ASEAN meeting

  Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin said on Monday the disputed South China Sea should not be discussed at a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

• Philippine's Aquino revives comparison between China and Nazi Germany

  Philippine President Benigno Aquino made a veiled comparison on Wednesday between China's activities in the South China Sea and Nazi Germany's expansionism before World War Two, echoing similar remarks he made last year that outraged Beijing.

• Malaysia, Indonesia to let "boat people" come ashore temporarily

  Malaysia and Indonesia said on Wednesday they would offer shelter to 7,000 "boat people" adrift at sea in rickety boats but, anxious not to encourage a fresh influx, made clear that their assistance was temporary and they would take no more.

• China says Philippines violating South China Sea code

  China has accused the Philippines of violating a 13-year-old informal code of conduct in the South China Sea with its building work on disputed islets, firing back again after repeated criticism of China's own construction work.

• Japan considering joint U.S. air patrols in South China Sea - sources

  Japan's military is considering joining the United States in maritime air patrols in the South China Sea in response to China's increasingly assertive pursuit of territorial claims, a Japanese and a U.S. source familiar with the discussions said.

• China 'extremely concerned' by ASEAN statement on disputed sea

  China's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that it was "extremely concerned" after leaders of Southeast Asian countries expressed worry about land reclamation and navigational freedom in the disputed South China Sea.

• Philippines calls on ASEAN to urge China to halt land reclamation

  The Philippines called on its Southeast Asian neighbors to unite in urging China to halt reclamation of land in the South China Sea, but the call failed to raise widespread support ahead of a regional summit.

• China maritime tensions dominate Southeast Asia summit

  Southeast Asian leaders edged closer to open criticism of China's land reclamation in the disputed South China Sea at a regional summit on Monday, as the Philippines drew the ire of Beijing which called its objections to the work "unreasonable".

• Philippines seeks Southeast Asian unity denouncing China reclamation

  Philippine President Benigno Aquino will ask Southeast Asian leaders to issue a collective statement denouncing China's reclamation in disputed waters, an official said on Monday, as the army expressed concern over expanding building works.

• Vietnam calls for 'self-restraint' in disputed South China Sea

  Vietnam and Australia called on Wednesday for "self-restraint" in the South China Sea and warned against the unilateral use of force, an obvious reference to China's increasingly aggressive presence that has stirred concerns across the disputed region.

• ASEAN to pressure China to stick to diplomacy on maritime disputes

  Southeast Asian leaders will welcome China's Prime Minister Le Keqiang with fanfare on Wednesday but behind closed doors will push their giant neighbor to take a less bellicose approach to overlapping claims in the South China Sea.