NSG members 'remain divided' over India's entry in club, claims China

Notwithstanding a US push for India's NSG membership, China today said members of the elite club "remain divided" on the issue of non-NPT countries joining it and insisted that there "was no deliberation" on the bid by India and other nations at the Vienna meeting.

"There was no deliberation on any items related to the accession to the NSG by India or any other countries that are not signatories to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei said in a statement while referring to the Vienna meeting that took place last week.

He said the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) Chair Argentine Ambassador Rafael Mariano Grossi convened an unofficial meeting of the 48-member group on June 9.

"The Chair said that this meeting has no agenda and is only convened to heed opinions from all parties on the outreach of the NSG and prepare for a report to be submitted at the NSG Plenary Meeting in Seoul later this month (June 24)," he said.

However, diplomatic sources in Vienna had said earlier that India's membership was discussed at the meeting and talks had remained inconclusive.

China has maintained that non-NPT signatories should not be admitted into NSG on the grounds that it would undermine efforts to prevent proliferation.

Calling for "full discussions" within the NSG to reach an agreement on India's admission, Hong said China would take part in the deliberations in a "constructive manner".

"China has noted that some non-NPT countries aspire to join the NSG but when it comes to the accession by non-NPT countries, China maintains that the group should have full discussions before forging consensus and making decisions based on agreement," he said.

"The NPT provides a political and legal foundation for the international non-proliferation regime as a whole. China's position applies to all non-NPT countries and targets no one in particular," Hong said, without directly mentioning India's application to join the Vienna-based group.

China has been reportedly backing Pakistan's bid to join the nuclear trading club.

"The fact is that many countries within the group also share China's stance," Hong said in response to a question about China, New Zealand, Ireland, Turkey, South Africa and Austria objecting to India's accession to the NSG at its meeting in Vienna.

"There has been some discussion within the group on the NSG membership of non-NPT countries, but NSG members remain divided on this issue," Hong said.