India wants NSG berth for its non-proliferation record, says MEA

New Delhi, January 19

India criticised China for saying that membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) could not be viewed as a "farewell gift".

Speaking at a press briefing, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Vikas Swarup, said that India wanted the membership not as a “gift”, but because of its “non-proliferation record".

"I, of course, cannot speak for other applicants," he said, hinting at Pakistan — whose non-proliferation record has been questioned.

Earlier this week, China had strongly reacted to outgoing Obama administration's assertion that Beijing was an "outlier" in the efforts to make India a member of the elite nuclear club.

"Regarding India's application to the NSG, 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 had told a media briefing.  "I just want to point out that NSG membership shall not be some kind of (a) farewell gift for countries to give to each other."

Hua was responding to remarks made by US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Nisha Desai Biswal, who said: "Clearly there is one outlier that needs to be addressed and that is China".

China has been blocking India's NSG membership bid despite backing from majority members on the grounds that India is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT).

China is advocating a two-step approach to admit non-signatories to the treaty.

Beijing says it wanted a solution that will apply to all non-NPT countries, followed by discussions on admitting specific nations.

Pakistan has also asked to be a member of the 48-member group. — PTI