June 28: The United States and the Philippines began an 11-day joint naval exercise, shortly before China accused the US of interfering in the South China Sea.

July 20: China and the ASEAN nations reached a series of agreements on implementation of the DOC, laying a solid foundation for practical cooperation in the area.

Aug 10: The US and Vietnam conducted a week-long joint military exercise in the South China Sea.

Aug 12: Premier Wen Jiabao and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who also holds the ASEAN rotating presidency, marked the 20th anniversary of relations between China and ASEAN.

Sept 25-28: Philippine President Benigno Aquino III visited Japan, during which the two countries reached an agreement on establishing a coordinative institute to resolve issues in the region. Japan agreed to strengthen military outposts in the sea, provide coast guard training and establish a intelligence exchange mechanism with the Southeast Asian nation.

Oct 11-15: Communist Party of Vietnam General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visited China. In a joint statement, the two countries pledged to ensure peace and stability in the South China Sea and open a hotline to deal with potential conflicts and hold border negotiations twice a year.

Oct 12: Indian and Vietnamese state-owned companies agreed to a joint oil and gas exploration project located west of the disputed islands in the South China Sea.

Oct 12: Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang met Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi, with both sides pledging to maintain peace and security in the South China Sea and expand their strategic partnership.

Oct 18: Philippine naval ships illegally seized Chinese fishing boats in disputed waters of the South China Sea.

Nov 18: Premier Wen proposed the establishment of a 3-billion-yuan ($477 million) China-ASEAN maritime cooperation fund at the 14th China-ASEAN Summit.