December 8 – December 14, 12 (2), 2014 Editor: Saroj Bishoyi Contributors Gunjan Singh China Pranamita Baruah Japan, South Korea Rajorshi Roy Russia Zaki Zaidi Iran, Iraq and the Gulf Saroj Bishoyi United States of America Rajbala Rana Internal Security Reviews Follow IDSA Facebook Twitter 1, Development Enclave, Rao Tula Ram Marg, New Delhi-110010 Telephone: 91-26717983; Fax: 91-11-26154191 Website: www.idsa.in; Email:
[email protected] The Week in Review December 8 – December 14, 12 (2), 2014 CONTENTS In This Issue Page I. COUNTRY REVIEWS 2-23 A. East Asia 2-4 B. Russia 5-11 C. Iran, Iraq and the Gulf 11-14 D. The United States of America 14-23 II. INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEWS 23-28 1 The Week in Review December 8 – December 14, 12 (2), 2014 I. COUNTRY REVIEWS A. East Asia China (December 8-14, 2014) Li Keqiang scheduled to visit three countries; Xi Jinping attends the first memorial ceremony for Nanjing Victims; China upset over Vietnam’s call for sovereignty over the South China Sea islands; China and Ireland discuss bilateral relations; China upset over the United States stance over the South China Sea; China calls for blocking of bill for sale of arms to Taiwan; Chinese defence minister meets with the Portuguese air force chief of staff. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will be starting a three nation tour in Asia and Europe from December 13. He will be visiting countries like Kazakhstan, Thailand and Serbia. Experts have stated that these visits, “will not only help further China’s relations with the host countries, but also be of great significance to regional and sub-regional cooperation”.