China said Sunday further discussion is needed to decide on the application of non-signatories to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) for membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
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China is seen as leading opposition to the U.S. move to include India in the NSG, but other countries, including New Zealand, Turkey, South Africa and Austria, also oppose Indian membership, according to diplomats.
China has maintained that non-NPT signatories should not be admitted into NSG on the grounds that it would undermine efforts to prevent proliferation.
The NSG looks after critical issues relating to nuclear sector and its members are allowed to trade in and export nuclear technology.
Officials expect a final decision may not come till the eve of the NSG meeting in South Korea on June 24, when the Prime Minister is expected to meet Mr. Xi at the SCO in Tashkent, that is also discussing India and Pakistan’s membership, on June 23-24. A decision on Indian membership is not expected before an NSG plenary meeting in Seoul on June 20.
“There has been some discussion within the group on the NSG membership of non-NPT countries, but NSG members remain divided on this issue”, Hong Lei, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Chinese government, said in a statement, which was posted online.
In the statement, Mr Hong also denied that a discussion was held on India and other non-NPT countries’ admission to the NSG at an unofficial meeting held on Thursday. Pakistan has demanded that NSG follow a criteria-based approach for the induction of all non-NPT states, and not make a 2008-like exception for India.
Beijing, which has been opposing New Delhi’s bid to get a seat in the NSG, said that it was in favour of forging “a consensus at an early date” and would take part in the discussion “in a constructive manner”.
Hong emphasized that the NPT is important for maintaining an worldwide system for non-proliferation in place.
“They (Pakistan) have made public their interest, and certainly any country can submit its application for membership”.
“The NPT is the political and legal basis for the entire global non-proliferation system”, Mr Hong said, adding that China would support the group in further talks to come to a consensus at an early date. Russian Federation has been supportive of India’s global ambitions from the UN Security Council to the nuclear deal, though Modi’s diplomatic focus has so far been on the US. “The fact is that many countries within the group also share China’s stance”, he said.
China is leading opposition to the U.S. move to include India NSG.
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A joint statement issued after talks between Modi and Obama said the USA called on NSG participating governments to support India’s application when it comes up at the NSG Plenary later this month.
