China is 'biggest spender' in search

The hunt for the Malaysia Airlines jet has become the most expensive maritime search operation that China has been involved in, according to experts.

"China is the nation that has sent the largest group of ships and aircraft to the search," said Wang Ya'nan, deputy editor-in-chief of Aerospace Knowledge magazine.

"Therefore, we can be sure that the nation must have become the biggest spender in the operation, although no official figures are available."