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China pours cold water on India's NSG hopes, says issue not on agenda

MEA official spokesperson Vikas Swaroop said while the government continued to remain optimistic on the issue, he, however, cautioned media not to speculate and wait for the outcome of the Seoul meeting.

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A day after external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj exuded confidence of persuading China into supporting India's entry to the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Beijing on Monday said the matter was not even on the agenda of the plenary meeting of the 48-nation grouping in Seoul, scheduled on Wednesday.

The confusion, however, reigned supreme, with no official word from the ministry of external affairs (MEA). Sources said foreign secretary S Jaishankar was flying to Seoul to make a last minute bid, even as the host South Koreans reported that applications of both India and Pakistan would be discussed.

MEA official spokesperson Vikas Swaroop said while the government continued to remain optimistic on the issue, he, however, cautioned media not to speculate and wait for the outcome of the Seoul meeting.

Sources here said the NSG meeting may discuss and set criteria and processes for the entry of new members, without going through applications of specific countries. China, along with some others, are saying that since India was being granted membership without being a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the grouping needs to set fresh standards for the same.

India's argument is that the criteria and processes were determined way back when it was granted a waiver in 2008. "Therefore, instead of going back to discussing the criteria and processes, the NSG members need to consider India's credentials and track record (in following NSG mandated norms)," Swaroop said.

In an effort to convince China, foreign secretary S Jaishankar was in Beijing on June 16-17, where he discussed "all major issues, including India's membership". Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Tashkent to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit on June 23-24. He is slated to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines to discuss India's membership to NSG.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in response to a question at a news briefing in Beijing that admission of countries yet to sign the NPT, including India, was not on the agenda of the Seoul conference. "The inclusion of non-NPT members has never been a topic on the agenda of NPT meetings. In Seoul this year there is no such topic," she said.

She acknowledged that foreign secretary S Jaishankar last week visited Beijing to discuss the issue, citing India's growing demands for clean energy, and concerns regarding climate change as the basis for its membership bid. She added that the Chinese side apprised Jaishankar of Beijing's stand.

Chinese spokesperson significantly made three additional points. First, the time was not ripe for Indian membership as "the NSG is still divided about non-NPT countries' entry into the NSG". Second, further discussions were required to achieve consensus, and China hoped that under the "current circumstance", "the NSG will have thorough discussion to make decisions based on consultation". Third, China was unwilling to make an exception for India. The spokesperson made it unambiguous that the "NSG should discuss the entry issue of non-NPT countries as a whole instead of specific non-NPT countries joining."

Beijing's response came a day after Sushma Swaraj at a news conference in New Delhi said, "China is not opposing membership of India in NSG, it is only talking of criteria and procedure. I am hopeful that we would be able to convince China as well to support our entry to the NSG."

India's case for NSG membership is being strongly pushed by the US, which has written to other members to support India's bid at the plenary meeting of the group in Seoul. While majority of the elite group members backed India's membership, it is understood that apart from China, countries like Turkey, South Africa, Ireland and New Zealand were not in favour of India's entry into the NSG.

The membership of NSG will enable it to trade in and export nuclear technology and is also expected to open up the international market for energy-starved India. India is looking at 63,000 MW energy requirement through nuclear programme by 2030.

On the possible outcome of the plenary meeting of the NSG, nuclear expert Dr Balachandran believes that the decision on the applications of India and Pakistan may be deferred till the inter-plenary meeting later this year, possibly after the missile technology control regime (MTCR) plenary session. Also, the membership may be offered to India and a decision on Pakistan's application may be deferred to a later stage.

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