US Under Secretary had said one country can break consensus in the 48-nation atomic trading bloc and insisted that such member should be held accountable.
United States Under Secretary for Political Affairs Tom Shannon today called on Home Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed with him issues concerning both the countries. Home Ministry officials described the meeting as a courtesy call where several bilateral issues came up for discussion. US Ambassador to India Richard R Verma was also present at the meeting.
The Home Minister is expected to visit the US next month to attend the Indo-US Homeland Security Dialogue where several key security pacts are expected to be signed. China accused the US of ignoring facts over India not getting entry into the NSG and claimed that the plenary meeting of the elite grouping in Seoul did not discuss the accession of any specific country. China's assertion came in response to the remarks by US Under Secretary for Political Affairs Tom Shannon yesterday that India failed to get entry into Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) due to China-led opposition.
China slams Shannon's comments
Shannon had said one country can break consensus in the 48-nation atomic trading bloc and insisted that such member should be held accountable. "With regard to the US officials comments on the NSG we want to point out that this official shows no regard to facts," Chinese Foreign Ministry official Hong Lei told a media briefing.
"In the plenary meeting in Seoul India' accession was not on the agenda of the meeting. It did not discuss the accession of any specific country into the group," Hong said. "The news release of the plenary meeting said meeting discussed the technical, legal and political questions concerning the accession of relevant countries," he said.
On Shannon's comment that China's motives in the South China Sea (SCS) was intended towards Indian Ocean, Hong said "we are strongly dissatisfied with that" remark.
Shannon had said, "What China is doing in the South China Sea is madness." "China's intentions and positions on the SCS are very clear. First is to maintain our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights. Second, to resolve dispute through dialogue and consultation," Hong said.
"The remarks made by the US official tries to drive a wedge among the regional countries, confuse the right from the wrong and are extremely irresponsible," he said. "We ask the US side to honour its commitments of not taking side on the SCS issue. Play a constructive role in the SCS not the opposite," he said.
Want China to behave in a reasonable fashion
Asserting that it seeks to work with forces who want China to behave in a responsible fashion, the United States has said that Beijing is trying to gain access to the Indian Ocean through South China Sea to broaden its presence in the region. Maintaining that it views India as partner, U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Tom Shannon, said America understands China’s behaviour in the region, especially in the South China Sea.
‘We are looking for ways in which we can work with the others in the region, who want China to behave in a responsible fashion and behave in fashion that is bound by a constraint of commitment to rules and regulations, not just navigations and sea ferrying but also dispute resolution,’ Tom Shannon said in a function here.
He further pointed out that Beijing works to secure the South China Sea as an area of strategic importance with the intention of not going into the blue pacific but going to Indian Ocean and broadening its presence in the Indian Ocean.
‘So in this regard, we see India as the natural strategic power of the Indian Ocean,’ he added.
He further said it is in Washington’s intention to work with India and to have a strong and comprehensive presence in the region.
‘Which is why, Admiral Harry Harris was here recently and why we have conducted exercises both bilaterally and tri laterally in the Indian Ocean,’ he added.
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