Beijing refuses to budge on India’s NSG bid

“This Friday in Vienna a plenary session of the NSG will be held. Our position is subject to no change as of date,” Lu Kang, Spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, told a media briefing. Referring to the November 4 meeting of the National Security Advisors (NSAs) of India and China in Hyderabad, Lu said China is in close contact with relevant parties including India and have been having constructive dialogue and coordination on this issue. 

China has also been holding simultaneous talks with Pakistan on its admission into the NSG. Officials say that the focus now shifts on the kind of modalities being worked out by NSG which can accommodate India, whose non-proliferation record is regarded positive by a majority of the group’s members contrary to Pakistan’s record in nuclear proliferation. About the meeting at Hyderabad, Kang said the officials exchanged views on bilateral as well as regional and international issues of common interest. Asked whether India’s concerns over China blocking the UN ban on Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Masood Azhar were addressed, Lu said they discussed issues that have “cropped up” in bilateral relations.