India slammed China for saying that membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) could not be viewed as a “farewell gift”. India wanted the membership not as a “gift”, but because of its “non-proliferation record,” said Vikas Swarup, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs while speaking at a press briefing.
“I, of course, cannot speak for other applicants,” he said, indicating at Pakistan. Pak’s non-proliferation record has been questioned.
China had lately reacted to resigning Obama administration’s declaration that Beijing was an “outlier” in the efforts to make India a member of the elite nuclear club.
“Regarding India’s application to the NSG, regarding non-NPT countries’ admission to the NSG, we have made our position clear before so I will not repeat it,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying had told media.
“I just want to point out that NSG membership shall not be some kind of (a) farewell gift for countries to give to each other.”
The statement come as Hua was responding to comments made by US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Nisha Desai Biswal. “Clearly there is one outlier that needs to be addressed and that is China,” the latter had said.
Notably, China has been obstructive India’s NSG membership attempt regardless of support from majority members, saying that India is not a participant to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT). Pakistan has also sought to be a member of the 48-member group.
