China’s foreign minister Yang Jiechi, who arrived in Kolkata on Sunday, is on a visit to India at a time when relations between the two Asian giants are under a cloud
Welcomes waiver, says it played a constructive role at the IAEA and NSG
NEW DELHI: China’s foreign minister Yang Jiechi, who arrived in Kolkata on Sunday, is on a visit to India at a time when relations between the two Asian giants are under a cloud over Beijing’s role at the Nuclear Suppliers Group meeting in Vienna.
India is expected to frankly convey to the Chinese minister its surprise and disappointment at Beijing’s shifting stand at the NSG meeting. Its disappointment was greater because both Chinese president Hu Jintao and prime minister Wen Jiabao had individually reassured prime minister Manmohan Singh that China would not stand in the way of the waiver.
Meanwhile, speaking in Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu welcomed the NSG waiver and said China feels all countries are entitled to make peaceful use of nuclear energy and conduct international agreements to buy and sell nuclear equipment and fuel. But he noted “relevant cooperation should be conducive to safeguarding integrity and efficacy of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime”.
India is peeved with the way Beijing played spoilsport at the NSG meet, a disappointment national security adviser MK Narayanan aired publicly soon after the waiver. Finding that sustained opposition by some smaller countries could torpedo the waiver, China egged them on, indirectly saying the decision could be taken at another sitting to give everyone enough time to consider the fresh exemption draft presented by the Americans.
Desperate to get the NSG nod and getting a sense of Beijing’s shifting position, a senior foreign ministry official telephoned the Chinese ambassador in Delhi and reminded him of his government’s assurances not to queer the pitch. Besides, US president George W Bush also spoke to Hu, following which China did not block the waiver.
But the opposition was not surprising given Beijing’s stiff opposition to India’s nuclear programme. China regards India’s growing ties with the US as a long-term plan by Washington to thwart its rising military and economic clout in Asia. Hence, India’s shock at what it says is Chinese betrayal is somewhat foolish.
“We played a constructive and positive role in both the International Atomic Energy Agency and the NSG,” Yang Jiechi said when asked by reporters here about China’s role. Yang also said China was keen on good relations with India and wanted more economic ties with New Delhi. He assured Singh that China did not regard India as a rival but a friend.
Yang formally inaugurated the Chinese consulate in Kolkata on Sunday, though it is already functioning. On Monday afternoon he arrived in New Delhi and called on the PM. He later held talks with foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee who will also hosted a dinner in his honour. Yang will leave for Colombo on Tuesday evening.
g_seema@dnaindia.net
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