Despite US nod, China hinders India's road to NSG

Beijing: China, on Sunday, said the issue of India’s inclusion in the group of NSG members remains divided as nations like New Zealand, Turkey, South Africa and Austria are among few who are not in the favor of non-NPT countries joining it.

Earlier, US and Mexico have supported India on the issue but China is seen as the major opposition to country’s inclusion to NSG that aims to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons by restricting the sale of items that can be used to make nuclear arms.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei said, “There was no deliberation on any items related to the accession to the NSG by India or any other countries that are not signatories to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)."

Meanwhile, India enjoys several benefits of membership under a 2008 exemption to NSG rules granted to support its nuclear cooperation deal with Washington.

Calling for discussions within the NSG to reach a pact on India's admission, Hong said China would take part in the deliberations in a "constructive manner".

"China has noted that some non-NPT countries aspire to join the NSG but when it comes to the accession by non-NPT countries, China maintains that the group should have full discussions before forging consensus and making decisions based on agreement," he said.