On Monday, the US gave a fresh push to India's membership by asking members of the NSG to support India's entry.
New Delhi:
China has taken a swipe at the US, while reiterating that India's Nuclear Suppliers Group or NSG membership is not on the agenda at the elite nuclear club's Seoul meeting, which is taking place this week. China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying, has also said the "door is open" for discussions on the issue but accused America of backtracking.
"I have not seen the US statement supporting India. But the US is one of those who made the rule that non-NPT countries should not join the Nuclear Suppliers Group," she said.
"According to my understanding, it (entry of new members) is not on the agenda of the NSG meeting in Seoul. The door is open for the admission of the non-NPT members. It is never closed. It is open. But the members of the NSG should stay focused on whether the criteria should be changed and whether non-NPT members should be admitted into the NSG", she added.
Talking to journalists about the implications of India's membership, the Chinese official said, "If the non-proliferation regime is changed how can we explain the Iranian nuclear treaty. We have North Korean issues there. So this concerns the core issue whether NPT and non-proliferation system could be impacted by this."
On Monday, the United States gave a fresh push to India's membership by asking members of the NSG to support India's entry. White House Press Secretary josh Earnest said, "We believe, and this has been US policy for some time, that India is ready for membership and the United States calls on participating governments to support India's application at the plenary session of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)".
"At the same time, participating governments will need to reach a consensus decision in order to admit any applicant into the group and the United States will certainly be advocating for India's membership," he added.
China's public opposition has made things tougher for India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be meeting Chinese President Xi Xinping in Tashkent on Wednesday for a last minute push on the NSG issue. Both leaders will meet on the sidelines of the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) meeting.
NDTV has learnt that Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar may fly to Seoul if there are some positive indications from the meeting there. Government sources have told NDTV that despite China's opposition, they expect about 20 countries, led by the US, to push India's case. Sources say the outcomes are uncertain and it appears this will go down to the wire till the last day of the Seoul meeting, which is June 24.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson also said India was not being specifically targetted. We never said we are against who (a country). We did not target any country, India or Pakistan", she said.
Apart from China, countries like Turkey, South Africa, Ireland and New Zealand are not in favour of India's entry into the NSG.
China has also been batting for its close ally Pakistan's entry if NSG extends any exemption for India.
The NSG looks after critical issues relating to the 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.
"I have not seen the US statement supporting India. But the US is one of those who made the rule that non-NPT countries should not join the Nuclear Suppliers Group," she said.
"According to my understanding, it (entry of new members) is not on the agenda of the NSG meeting in Seoul. The door is open for the admission of the non-NPT members. It is never closed. It is open. But the members of the NSG should stay focused on whether the criteria should be changed and whether non-NPT members should be admitted into the NSG", she added.
Talking to journalists about the implications of India's membership, the Chinese official said, "If the non-proliferation regime is changed how can we explain the Iranian nuclear treaty. We have North Korean issues there. So this concerns the core issue whether NPT and non-proliferation system could be impacted by this."
On Monday, the United States gave a fresh push to India's membership by asking members of the NSG to support India's entry. White House Press Secretary josh Earnest said, "We believe, and this has been US policy for some time, that India is ready for membership and the United States calls on participating governments to support India's application at the plenary session of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)".
"At the same time, participating governments will need to reach a consensus decision in order to admit any applicant into the group and the United States will certainly be advocating for India's membership," he added.
China's public opposition has made things tougher for India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be meeting Chinese President Xi Xinping in Tashkent on Wednesday for a last minute push on the NSG issue. Both leaders will meet on the sidelines of the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) meeting.
NDTV has learnt that Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar may fly to Seoul if there are some positive indications from the meeting there. Government sources have told NDTV that despite China's opposition, they expect about 20 countries, led by the US, to push India's case. Sources say the outcomes are uncertain and it appears this will go down to the wire till the last day of the Seoul meeting, which is June 24.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson also said India was not being specifically targetted. We never said we are against who (a country). We did not target any country, India or Pakistan", she said.
Apart from China, countries like Turkey, South Africa, Ireland and New Zealand are not in favour of India's entry into the NSG.
China has also been batting for its close ally Pakistan's entry if NSG extends any exemption for India.
The NSG looks after critical issues relating to the 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.
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