Beijing, Nov 30: China on Monday called for discussions on whether “India and other countries” who have not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) can join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), amid new diplomatic push by influential members of the 48-member grouping to admit India.
Replying to a question about a media report in Pakistan stating that China has assured that it will push for Islamabad’s membership into the group if India is admitted, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that whether or not Non-NPT countries be admitted should be subjected to “through discussion” among the NSG members.
NSG chairman Rafael Grossi had visited India this month and held talks with top leaders there about India’s admission as part of efforts to build consensus to admit New Delhi.
India’s case is being pressed by the US and other influential countries based on its record in non-proliferation and the India-US civil nuclear accord.
China’s call for talks among NSG members about “India and other Non-NPT” members indicate that Beijing may push for the case of Pakistan, which in the past has been accused of passing of nuclear technology to Iran and other countries.
