Another U-turn by China on India’s NSG membership

Chinese Foreign Ministry, however, asked the 48-member NSG to “stay focussed” on whether the criteria should be changed on entry of non-NPT countries into the elite group. “I have not seen the US statement supporting India. 

But US is one of those who made the rule that non-NPT countries should not join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG),” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing. Hua made the remarks in response to a question on US asking members of the nuclear trading club to support India’s application. 

“The door is open. The room is there.  We did not target any country, India or Pakistan,” Hua said. Meanwhile, reports say Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar may travel to Seoul to push for India’s bid for NSG membership at the plenary of the 48-nation grouping on June 23-24.