In the backdrop of China playing a spoiler in India’s entry into NSG, Congress on Friday dismissed as a “big zero” the sum total of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign visits and foreign policy initiatives.
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But China on Thursday maintained its position that the NPT is central to the NSG, diplomats said.
A decision on India is, however, not expected before an NSG plenary meeting in Seoul on June 20.
India’s NSG membership issue comes at a time of deepening divisions between China and the United States over the disputed South China Sea.
Pakistan has also applied to become a member of the club, and is being backed by China.
Pakistan argues that its presence in the NSG is in the interest of nuclear trading countries, as it will further promote NSG non-proliferation objectives by the inclusion of a state with nuclear supply capabilities and its adherence to the NSG guidelines.
The NSG had come into being in response to to India’s first nuclear test in 1974.
Government sources are however insisting that India will “try to find common ground with China where we can”.
It would also infuriate India’s rival Pakistan, an ally of China’s, which has responded to India’s membership bid with one of its own.
He also held wide-ranging talks with President Obama at the White House following which the USA recognised India as a “major defence partner”.
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a group of nuclear supplier countries that seek to prevent nuclear proliferation by controlling the export of materials, equipment and technology that can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons.
New Zealand took a hard line against a similar bid eight years ago under former Prime Minister Helen Clark and Foreign Minister Phil Goff, laying down five conditions India needed to meet. On Tuesday, he met with President Barack Obama at the White House, where the two leaders said India agreed to work toward joining the Paris Agreement on climate change this year and discussed security and cyber security issues.
China, a major NSG member, is still holding out, citing that India needs to sign the NPT. He leaves for India on Thursday. One Vienna-based diplomat said it had softened its stance but still opposed the idea of India joining under conditions that did not apply equally to all.
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“Because Namibia hasn’t been able to sell us uranium, we have turned to other countries – Kazakhstan, Australia and Canada – for the fuel”, Amar Sinha, secretary (economic relations) in the ministry of external affairs, said yesterday.
