New Delhi, June 19: As India makes a determined bid to get nuclear suppliers group (NSG) membership, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said Sunday China was not opposed to its entry even as foreign secretary S Jaishankar made an unannounced visit to Beijing June 16-17 to secure support.
Stating that China is talking about the criteria and procedure to be adopted for membership of the 48-nation atomic trading bloc, Swaraj said India hoped to convince China to give its backing. The NSG works under the principle of unanimity and even one country’s vote against India can scuttle its bid.
Swaraj also said India was confident of getting NSG membership this year. “China is not opposing membership of India in NSG, it is only talking of criteria and procedure. I am hopeful that we will be able to convince China as well to support our entry to the NSG,’’ she told reporters here while highlighting her ministry’s achievements in the last two years.
‘‘I think there is a consensus which is being made and I am sure India will become the member of the NSG this year,’’ she said, adding, ‘‘The NSG entry is crucial for India’s energy policy.’’
‘‘I’m myself in contact with 23 nations, one or two raised concern but think consensus is there,’’ Swaraj said instead of talking about criteria with respect to India’s bid, its credentials should be discussed. She said as far as entry of Pakistan is concerned, India, being a non-member of the NSG, cannot comment on its entry. ‘‘But we’ll not oppose entry of any nation to NSG. We think application of each country should be considered on the basis of merit,’’ she added.
Jaishankar’s visit to Beijing June 16-17 came a week ahead of the plenary meeting of the NSG scheduled for June 24 in Seoul where India’s membership may be discussed.
‘‘Yes, I can confirm foreign secretary visited Beijing June 16-17 for bilateral consultations with his Chinese counterpart. All major issues, including India’s NSG membership, were discussed,’’ external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said
China is believed to be opposing India’s membership arguing that it was not a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT).
Earlier this week, China’s official media said India’s NSG membership would ‘‘jeopardise’’ China’s national interests besides touching a ‘‘raw nerve’’ in Pakistan. PTI
