India’s entry into NSG cannot be a farewell gift, China says

Beijing, Jan 16:

China on Monday said India’s entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) cannot be a “farewell gift” to the outgoing US President Barack Obama.

Beijing’s reaction came after US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal described China as an “outlier” in the process of letting India joining the nuclear trade bloc.

“Regarding India’s application to the Nuclear Suppliers Group, 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 said here.

“I just want to point out that NSG membership shall not be some kind of farewell gift for countries to give to each other,” Hua said, obliquely referring to Obama who will be succeeded by Donald J. Trump.

The US administration, under Obama, has strongly backed India’s membership in the NSG, which regulates the global nuclear trade.

China’s has opposed India’s entry into the 48-member grouping, which is one of the irritants in Sino-India ties.

Beijing objects to New Delhi’s inclusion in the bloc, citing India’s non-signatory status to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. (IANS)