COUNTRY REVIEWS

East Asia

China

• China continues to patrol Diaoyu Islands; China voices stern opposition to Japan’s joint military exercises with “extraterritorial nations”; Romania, China call to boost closer cooperation; China-Tajikistan-Afghanistan agreement on the definition of the tri-junction point for national boundaries ratified by National People's Congress (NPC); The Standing Committee of the NPC announces the termination of Bo Xilai's post as an NPC Deputy; Chinese Defense Ministry dismisses media reports about a planned test launch of an anti-satellite missile; CPC leader calls for closer ties with Bangladeshi political parties

Japan
(OCTOBER 15-21)

• Japan submits an anti-nuclear resolution to the UN for the 19th consecutive year; Japan, United States and South Korea to work together in resolving North Korea’s nuclear threat; Japan decided to extend the mandate of SDF’s PKO in Sudan by one year

(OCTOBER 22-28)

• Japan protests South Korean lawmakers’ recent visit to Takeshima islands

South Korea
(OCTOBER 15-21)

• South Korea elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council

(OCTOBER 22-28)

• South Korea and the US to expand military cooperation in space; South Korea to submit formal claim to an extended portion of its continental shelf to the UN

Central Asia

• Tajikistan to become full-fledged WTO member in mid-2013; Asian Development bank to provide a US$ 150 million loan to Uzbekistan in order to modernize the energy supply to Ferghana valley; Kazakhstan and Czech Republic sign deals worth US$ 25 million; Korean firm POSCO wins a US$ 640 million contract to build a new town in Kazakhstan; State Development Bank of China gives a loan of US$ 220 million to modernize Uzbekistan’s thermal power plant; Central Asian countries fare well in World Bank’s ‘Doing Business Report’

Russia

• Russia’s defence spending to touch 2.1 trillion roubles in 2013; Russia backs Germany’s position in tackling the current European debt crisis; Rosneft agrees with British Petroleum to buy the full TNK-BP stock; US to abrogate the long disputed Jackson-Vanik Amendment with Russia; European Parliament approves sanctions against Russian officials involved in Magnitsky case; Russia successfully test fires a new inter continental ballistic missile to be used against anti-missile systems; Russia initiates UN Security Council consultations on Syria and Libya; Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister: Opposition in Syria has disrupted the current truce; Russia identifies territorial claims as the key threat to security in Asia Pacific; Russia asks the US to stop arresting Russian citizens in third countries by a US warrant; Russia and South Ossetia to continue investment cooperation during the period 2013-2015; US and Swedish inspectors to fly over Russia as part of the Open Skies Treaty

West Asia

Iran

• Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov: Moscow will scuttle any UN Security Council resolution that could be interpreted as authorizing military action against Iran; Tehran agreed to finance Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline Project

Iraq

• 17 People Killed in Iraq on Eid al-Adha holiday

Syria

• UN-backed ceasefire collapses as fighting continues in Damascus; Syrian Army blames ceasefire collapse on rebels

Lebanon

• March 14 coalition weighs legal means to oust government; FBI team assists Lebanese government in bomb blast investigation

DEFENCE REVIEW

National
(OCTOBER 15-21)

• India-Indonesia to enhance defence cooperation; Defence Minister for a proactive role for navy in the Indian Ocean region

(OCTOBER 22-28)

• Mini-Ratna company BDL pays highest ever dividend to the government; India-Japan to advance security cooperation

International
(OCTOBER 15-21)

• Major Joint Military drill to take place between US and Israel; Iraq calls on United States to speed up arms deliveries

(OCTOBER 22-28)

• Russia accuses US of assisting Syrian rebels with arms; NATO unveils potential C4ISR acquisition plan

INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW

Jammu & Kashmir

• Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militant arrested in South Kashmir; Tension prevailed in Zanskar, Kargil

North East India

• Mizo border villagers set October 31 set as deadline for Myanmarese foreigners settled on their land to leave or face eviction ; Grenade attack in Chirang district, Assam leaves one dead and few injured; Illegal Bangladeshi immigrants arrested in Meghalaya; Proposal for railway line to Imphal cleared; Assam militants arrested in Tripura

UNITED NATIONS (UN) REVIEW

• India claims UN Biodiversity Conference to be a “huge” achievement; Syrian president accepts ceasefire on the eve of Eid; FDI inflows into India fall by 8 per cent: UN report