China says no to India’s NSG membership, again

China dashed India’s hope of joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) again on Friday, when the Chinese said they had not changed their stance on admitting new members to the group during the NSG meeting currently underway at Bern.

During a media briefing, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said, “As for non-NPT countries being admitted to the group, I can tell you there is no change to China’s position.”

He was replying to a question about possible changes in China‘s stand at the plenary meeting at the Swiss capital. 

Shuang also added, “the NSG has clear rules on admission of new members and the Seoul plenary made clear mandates on how to deal with this issue and with these rules and mandates; they need to act as dictated.”

China‘s stand that stonewalled India’s admission has become a major stumbling block in bilateral relations between the two countries.

After India’s application, Pakistan had also applied for entry into the 48-member elite group that controls nuclear trade. Being an ally, Pakistan has China’s backing. 

While India, which is backed by the United States and a number of western countries, has garnered support from a majority of the group’s members, China has stuck to its stand that new members should sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Thus, making the entry for a non-NPT member like India difficult.