NEW DELHI: In a new way to block India's move for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, China has announced that the NSG is linked to the NPT. To put it clearly, the statement directly implies that India could be eligible for NSG membership only if it signed the NPT.
Chinese diplomats spoke to journalists in New Delhi, denying the situation was a "bilateral issue". A Chinese official said, "As a member of UN security council, we are the watchdog of the world, we must ensure the rules. And we must also think about others, not just India who want an exception of the rules." In a style that India knows too well, the official said, "China would never block India's entry into any world body but what about the efficiency of the regime? China joined the NPT in 1992. The treaty has some problems and Indians believe there are double standards. But it only recognises nuclear weapons states as those that tested weapons before 1967. China did not make this rule, western powers did. We just have to maintain the rules."
The Chinese put their foot down once the US began endorsing India's membership to the NSG last week. Since its NSG waiver in 2008, India has engaged many members of the NSG to give them all a closr look into the country's nuclear system, its non-proliferation practices, etc. A lot is on the cards considering the matter at hand. President Pranab Mukherjee is expected to engage Chinese leaders on the membership during his trip to China next week. With the NSG plenary scheduled for June, sources said India would be actively pursuing the subject with China.
