South China Sea

China's navy had 'unlawfully' confiscated the drone on 15 December in the disputed waters.

Donald Trump's flirtations with Taiwan and anti-Chinese rhetoric has raised Sino-American tensions.

The Chinese government considers its sovereignty over Taiwan sacred.

An article in the ruling party-run People's Daily alleged the seized drone is the 'tip of the iceberg of US military strategy'.

The Global Times editorial criticised Trump saying he has no idea 'how to lead a superpower'.

China said it had taken the US underwater drone to be checked to prevent any navigational safety issues.

Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay said the country does not want to increase tensions with China on the South China Sea dispute.

'The overflight is about the mission and responsibility of the Chinese Air Force,' said China's defence ministry.

The systems have reportedly been installed on four of seven islands in the hotly contested Spratly archipelago.

Admiral Harry Harris said ensuring freedom of navigation was 'an enduring principle'.

China also reiterated that Taiwan's independence is a 'dead end'.

India's Narendra Modi and Indonesia's Joko Widodo called for self-restraint in the conduct of activities in the contested waters.

Taiwan said the Chinese jets flew north to south and entered the Miyako Strait around Japan's southern islands.

Satellite pictures show new channels between Ladd Reef near Spratly Island and open sea.

Filipino Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana says the US could use aircraft carriers or its bases in Guam.

The Global Times calls US-Japan ties a product of the Cold War era.

China's foreign ministry says it is maintaining contacts with the US president-elect's transition team.

The US president-elect takes to Twitter to criticise Beijing's economic and military policies.

Britain's ambassador to the US said fighter jets deployed to visit Japan would assert international overflight rights.

Taiwan held a day-long exercise on the Spratly Island to turn it into a humanitarian base.

Taiwanese government wants to turn the disputed islets into a humanitarian base.

Singapore's Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan said it was 'not a strategic incident'.

Global Times article says Singapore might be working against 'One China' policy.

The move is said to be a result of Manila and Beijing sharing warm relations in recent times after Duterte's China visit.

Chinese academics said the crux of US military strategy was to have 'absolute control' over the disputed waters.

Duterte recently proposed to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to turn the disputed shoal into a marine sanctuary.

The Philippines president stopped over in Auckland on his way to Manila after attending APEC summit in Peru.

Xi said China and Philippines should see the disputed Scarborough Shoal as a "symbol of cooperation."

The aircraft carrier marks a milestone for China's People's Liberation Army Navy.

Xi and Donald Trump have agreed to meet at an early date to exchange views on issues of mutual interest.