Drums of war on the Korean Peninsula – China’s latest political and current affairs news

The Wall Street Journal says (paywall) that “China has been bolstering defenses along its 880-mile frontier with North Korea and realigning forces in surrounding regions to prepare for a potential crisis across their border, including the possibility of a U.S. military strike.”

Meanwhile, the Washington Post reports that “North Korea will be able to field a reliable, nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile as early as next year,” according to “a confidential assessment” by U.S. officials.

• South China Sea
  The South China Sea’s untapped oil and natural gas are back in focus / Quartz
  China urges halt to oil drilling in disputed South China Sea / Reuters
  China backs joint energy development with Philippines in disputed sea / Reuters
• Military
  China refutes U.S. accusation that its fighter jets operated dangerously / LA Times
  Chinese military sets up hi-tech weapons research agency / SCMP
  Russia and China hold first joint naval exercises in Baltic Sea / Bloomberg
• India and border tensions
  Don’t harbor unrealistic illusions, China tells India / The Hindu
  As India and China face off in the mountains, a new confrontation is growing in the ocean / CNBC
  China blames India for border standoff and calls on it to withdraw its troops / SCMP
• Djibouti
  China offers to mediate Djibouti-Eritrea border row as it expands military presence in Africa / SCMP