COUNTRY REVIEWS

East Asia

China

(MARCH 3-16)

• China urges to intensify search for the missing Malaysian plane; Saudi Crown Prince to visit China; Xi Jinping speaks to US President Obama about Ukraine over telephone; China willing to work towards peaceful reconstruction of Afghanistan; China and ASEAN set to talk about the South China Sea; China set to increase its defence budget by 12.2percent in 2014; Xi Jinping calls for protection of ethnic stability in China; Chinese authorities: 28 people died during the Kunming railway station attack; China calls for restraint and calm over the Ukraine issue; Xi Jinping to meet Barack Obama; China announces its urbanization plan for 2014-2020; China and UK conclude the 5th defence strategic talks; China concludes the annual session of NPC; Li Keqiang calls for reduced disputes with the neighbours; China pledges its support to the location of the missing Malaysian Plane

MARCH 17-30

• Dutch Prime Minister hopeful of China’s important role at the Nuclear Security Meeting; China marks 10th anniversary of diplomatic relations with the Dominica; Chinese President leaves for Europe Visit; China keen to make contributions to the Iranian nuclear issue; China calls for political solution to the ongoing Crimean crisis; China keen to integrate Chinese technology with India; China startled with the Philippines move on the reef.

USA

(MARCH 3-16)

• Top US official to visit India to strengthen India-US ties; India seeks early resolution of a series of disputes with the US; Pentagon: US supports India's rise as capable actor in region; US and EU impose sanctions and warn Russia to relent in Ukraine standoff

MARCH 17-30

• US and allies expel Russia from Group of 8; Obama criticizes Russia of Annexing Crimea; President Obama visits Saudi Arabia; President Obama brings South Korea and Japan together for talks

DEFENCE REVIEW

National

(MARCH 3-16)

• Inquiry ordered into an accident at Ship Building Centre, Visakhapatnam; Preliminary investigation into the INS Sindhuratna mishap points to human error.

(MARCH 17-30)

• Pilot project for Modernisation of Airfield Infrastructure (MAFI) commissioned; Indian navy participates in multilateral humanitarian assistance/disaster relief exercise underway in Indonesia.

International

(MARCH 3-16)

• Philippines asserts its right to defend every inch of its territory; U.S. Defense Department budget increases spending on cyber security.

(MARCH 17-30)

• Qatar announces contracts worth $23 billion at Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition (DIMDEX); NATO Chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen: Ukraine crisis underscored the need to protect the right of nations to map out their own future.