Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei

After India blamed "one country" for keeping it from joining the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group or NSG, China has retaliated, stating that "many countries" expressed concerns about membership for nations that have not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The remarks by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei were an indirect criticism of the United States, the biggest and most powerful IMF member, where lawmakers failed on Monday to agree on key funding measures, though Hong did not mention the United States by name.

A Chinese spokesman on Tuesday said he had no information about the status of leader-in-waiting Xi Jinping, who dropped from sight 10 days ago and has canceled a series of meetings with foreign visitors. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said he had "no information in this regard" when asked about Xi's condition and whereabouts at a news confere...

After India blamed "one country" for keeping it from joining the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group or NSG, China has retaliated, stating that "many countries" expressed concerns about membership for nations that have not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The remarks by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei were an indirect criticism of the United States, the biggest and most powerful IMF member, where lawmakers failed on Monday to agree on key funding measures, though Hong did not mention the United States by name.

A Chinese spokesman on Tuesday said he had no information about the status of leader-in-waiting Xi Jinping, who dropped from sight 10 days ago and has canceled a series of meetings with foreign visitors. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said he had "no information in this regard" when asked about Xi's condition and whereabouts at a news confere...