NEW DELHI – China on Friday said it will oppose India’s entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) whose plenary session is underway in Bern, reported Indian media on Friday.
“As for non-NPT countries being admitted to the group, I can tell you there is no change in China’s position,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said.
He further added that: “I want to point out that the NSG has clear rules on admission of new members and the Seoul plenary made clear mandates on how to deal with this issue. With these rules and mandates, we need to act as they dictate.”
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson said they will follow mandate of the Seoul plenary with regards to admitting new members: “As for the criteria regarding admitting new members, as far as I know this plenary meeting in Switzerland will follow mandate of the Seoul plenary and uphold principle of decision upon consensus and continue to discuss various dimensions like technology, law, legal and political aspects of non-NPT countries admission the group.”
China has repeatedly stonewalled India’s admission in the NSG, a move that has become a major stumbling block in bilateral relations between the two countries. Beijing says if India could be let in, why not its “all weather” ally Pakistan. India applied for membership of the NSG in May 2016.
