COUNTRY REVIEW

South Asia

Afghanistan

• McChrystal: More forces required in Afghanistan, “increasing Indian influence in Afghanistan is likely to exacerbate regional tensions and encourage Pakistani countermeasures”

bhutan

• Earthquake measuring 6.9 strikes eastern Bhutan; Brazil establishes diplomatic relations with Bhutan

Maldives

• Nasheed at the UN Summit on Climate Change: Price of inaction on climate change could cost over $170 billion; Maldives signs MoU with Israel

EAST AND SOUTHEAST ASIA

China

• Chinese defence diplomacy shows new vigour; Chinese and Russian navies conduct joint military exercise in the Gulf of Aden; China terms as “totally groundless and irresponsible” the US description of the country as “very aggressive in the cyber world”

Korean Peninsula

• South Korean President Lee Myung-bak urges the international community not to be distracted by Pyongyang’s conciliatory gestures; Lee praises Pakistani efforts to fight terrorism; South Korean Navy launches two new patrol boats

West Asia

Iran

• Obama: Discovery of an underground uranium enrichment plant continues “a disturbing pattern of Iranian evasion”; Rafsanjani warns of a “mysterious plot” targeting the concept of velayat-e faqih