BEIJING – China has said admission of non-NPT signatories in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) cannot be a “farewell gift” for countries to give to each other privately, a day after the outgoing Obama administration asserted that Beijing was an “outlier” in the efforts to make India a member of the elite nuclear club.
“Regarding India’s application to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), regarding non-NPT countries admission to the NSG, we have made our position clear before so I will not repeat it,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing in Beijing.
The response follows remarks of US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Nisha Desai Biswal, who criticized the China saying “Clearly there is one outlier that needs to be addressed and that is China.”
“I just want to point out that NSG membership shall not be some kind of (a) farewell gift for countries to give to each other,” Ms Hua said, taking a dig at the Obama administration.
China has been blocking India’s membership bid for the 48-member grouping despite backing from majority members on the grounds that India is not a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT).
China is advocating a two-step approach for admission of countries who have not signed the NPT.
As per the new stand announced by Beijing, it first wants to find a solution that is applicable to the admission of all non-NPT countries followed by discussions on admitting specific nations.
A defence expert Noman Sattar talking to Radio Pakistan said the NSG membership should not be discriminatory and every state which wants its membership should be given the opportunity. “Those states which do not fulfill its requirements are ineligible to become members. India should not become NSG member as it is a non-signatory to NPT.”
He said that U.S was trying to give out of the way favor to India for acquiring membership which is discriminatory as well as unlawful. Pakistan being a nuclear power should also be given equal opportunity for membership of this group, he highlighted.
Pakistan Council on China Chairman Dr. Fazl Ur Rehman said that China’s stance on not allowing India to become NSG member was based on principles. “China is a powerful state which keeps its policy very clear and vivid. China never favors the discriminatory laws as to support the favorites and avoid the others.”
The Kashmir issue which is the nuclear flash-point between these two countries should be solved. The U.S is politically supporting India for entering into the NSG which is discriminatory.
