China accuses US of ignoring facts over India’s membership

China’s assertion came in response to the remarks by US Under Secretary for Political Affairs Tom Shannon on Wednesday that India failed to get entry into Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) due to China-led opposition. 

“With regard to the US officials’ comments on the NSG we want to point out that this official shows no regard to facts,” Chinese Foreign Ministry official Hong Lei told a media briefing. “In the plenary meeting in Seoul, India’s accession was not on the agenda of the meeting. It did not discuss the accession of any specific country into the group,” Hong said. “The news release of the plenary meeting said the meeting discussed the technical, legal and political questions concerning the accession of relevant countries,” he said.

On Shannon’s comment that China’s motives in the South China Sea (SCS) was intended towards Indian Ocean, Hong said “we are strongly dissatisfied with that” remark. “China’s intentions and positions on the SCS are very clear. First is to maintain our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights. Second, to resolve dispute through dialogue and consultation,” Hong said. 

“The remarks made by the US official tries to drive a wedge among the regional countries, confuse the right from the wrong and are extremely irresponsible,” he said. “We ask the US side to honour its commitments of not taking side on the SCS issue. Play a constructive role in the SCS not the opposite,” he said. China is locked in disputes over the ownership of islands and reefs in the South China Sea with several countries such as Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.