New Delhi: Amid China’s staunch opposition to India's inclusion into Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) by blocking New Delhi’s case from making it on the formal agenda of meet in Seoul, several member nations are said to be discussing a plan B that could help it bypass China’s objection.
According to a report by Economic Times, India’s application for membership was accepted in the technical meet of NSG in Vienna on June 9. However, China opposed the move saying that members first needed to arrive at a consensus on admitting countries which have not signed the Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Although China had blocked india’s case trom making it to the formal agenda, 29 out of 48 countries spoke up on the issue during the June 9 meet. After the meet, Argentina, the current chair of the NSG, along with some other countries has been informally discussing an alternate plan.
The group is discussing setting up a time-bound working group that will lay down the benchmark for non-NPT countries to join the grouping, the daily reported. Such an arrangement would allow the matter to come up on the agenda in Seoul meet and India will get a definite timeframe.
China on Monday said that India's inclusion in the elite grouping is not on the agenda at a plenary meeting of the 48-member bloc to be held on June 23 in Seoul.
"We have stressed that the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is still divided about non-NPT countries entry into the NSG and under the current circumstances we hope that NSG will make through discussions to make a decision based on consultation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing.
India's case for NSG membership is being strongly pushed by the US, which has written to other members to support India's bid at the plenary meeting of the group in Seoul.
While majority of the elite group backed India's membership, it is understood that apart from China, countries like Turkey, South Africa, Ireland and New Zealand were not in favour of India's entry into the NSG.
China maintains opposition to India's entry, arguing that it has not signed Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). China wants NSG membership for its close ally Pakistan if NSG extends any exemption for India. India has asserted that being a signatory to the NPT was not essential for joining the NSG as there has been a precedent in this regard, citing the case of France.
The NSG looks after critical issues relating to nuclear sector and its members are allowed to trade in and export nuclear technology. Membership of the grouping will help India significantly expand its atomic energy sector.
