BEIJING: China has said India's membership bid in the NSG has become “more complicated” under “new circumstances” as it yet again ruled out backing New Delhi's entry in the group. A close ally to Pakistan, China has been blocking India's membership in the 48-nation grouping that controls the nuclear commerce.
Chinese assistant minister of foreign affairs Li Huilai said, “About the Nuclear Suppliers Group, it is a new issue under the new circumstances and it is more complicated than previously imagined. China supports the NSG to have consultation for reaching non-discriminatory and universally applicable solution, applicable to all members of the NSG.” Huilai is yet to elaborate on the new circumstances and complications.
While Pakistan has also applied for a membership, China has not openly supported the move, drawing a two-step approach instead which stipulates that the NSG members first need to arrive at a set of principles for the admission of non-NPT states into the NSG and then move forward discussions of specific cases. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told the media, last month that there is no change in China's stand on admission of non-NPT states into NSG, ruling out any chances of India's entry into the elite grouping. When asked about the chances of India's admission, he said, “China's position on the non-NPT members' participation in the NSG has not changed.”
