E-Paper
France supports India’s bid ahead of NSG meet as China plays hardball
A day ahead of a crucial meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), China on Wednesday changed tack on India’s entry into the elite club, saying only applications of countries that signed an atomic non-proliferation pact will be considered.
A day ahead of a crucial meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), China on Wednesday changed tack on India’s entry into the elite club, saying only applications of countries that signed an atomic non-proliferation pact will be considered.
This is seen as a hardening of stand after Beijing had said on Tuesday there was still “room for discussion” on countries such as India.
Neither India nor Pakistan, which also wants to get into the club of countries controlling trade in sensitive nuclear technology, has signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT). Present NSG rules allow only NPT signatories to apply for membership.
Read: China rules out discussion on India’s NSG bid at Seoul meet
“Deliberation on the entry of specific countries is on the agenda of the Seoul plenary meeting (June 23-24). However, it is worth noting that the meeting is only to deliberate on the entry application of countries that are state parties to the NPT,” the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement.
“As for the entry of non-NPT countries, the group has never put that on its meeting agenda.”
The United States has already put its weight behind India, and on Wednesday France reiterated its support, saying New Delhi’s entry will help better regulate nuclear trade.
“In line with its active and long-standing support to India’s entry to the NSG as a full-fledged member, France calls on its members… to take a positive decision,” the French foreign ministry said in a statement.
Meanwhile, foreign secretary S Jaishankar flew to Seoul on Wednesday to shore up New Delhi’s efforts to join the NSG despite the stonewalling by China, which has pushed for India’s application to be considered along with that of Pakistan.
NSG members held three rounds of unofficial discussions on the entry of India and Pakistan into the group, the Chinese statement said. “Although parties are yet to see eye to eye on this issue, such discussions help them better understand each other. China hopes to further discuss this issue and will play a constructive role in the discussions,” it added.
Read: Why NSG membership matters to India: All you need to know
A senior Western diplomatic source noted there had been an “evolution” in China’s stance even in the past 24 hours.
Diplomatic sources said India will have scored a victory even if it manages to get its application on the agenda so that the matter is open for discussion by the NSG at a subsequent stage.
The sources pointed out that when New Delhi got a waiver from the NSG’s rules in 2008, following the India-US civil nuclear deal, this was based on the country’s commitments and track record on non-proliferation.
This track record is a key reason for the strength of US support for India’s membership of the NSG. In the US view, India’s non-proliferation record since the NSG exemption in 2008 has actually improved. The lack of a similar track record, US sources said, is why Washington and other NSG members are opposed to Pakistan being considered at the same time as India.
The US also believes that even if China is able to ensure India’s application is not taken up at the NSG plenary in Seoul, this will not bring the bid for membership to an end. But membership will take a “concerted diplomatic effort”, the US sources said.
Read: S Jaishankar heads to Seoul to push for India’s NSG membership
One possibility that was being explored was the creation of a working group by the NSG to examine the membership of non-NPT countries, sources said.
“Let us not pre-judge anything. This is a long and winding negotiation,” an Indian source said. “We are hopeful that we will make it sooner than later. We don’t want to put a timeline or a deadline.”
The NSG, set up in response to India’s first nuclear test in 1974, aims to prevent the proliferation of atomic weapons. The group works on the principle of consensus and a single hold-out country can spoil India’s chance of joining the club.
