China Stalls India’s Bid For NSG Membership, Again

Thanks to China, India’s wait for Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership continues as the twenty-seventh plenary meeting of the body ended here without handing out any good news for New Delhi.

Beijing has been objecting to New Delhi’s entry into the NSG on grounds that it has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) on nuclear weapons. The NPT, opened for signature in 1968 and entered into force in 1970, defines nuclear-weapon states as those that have built and tested a nuclear explosive device before 1 January 1967. These are the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and China. Except China, the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France have already extended support for India’s entry into the NSG.

India has not signed the NPT as its traditional position has always been either ‘The Five’ should denuclearise or everyone has the same rights to have nuclear weapons. However, to send a message of responsible nuclear nation India has a stated policy of ‘no first use’. Despite being a non-signatory of the NPT, India adheres to the NSG’s norms.

The two-day meeting, however, discussed NSG’s relationship with India and considered aspects of the implementation of the 2008 Statement on Civil Nuclear Cooperation with India.

With inputs from ANI.