India meets all conditions, but out of NSG due to China’s veto: US

WASHINGTON: India has not been able to secure membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group because of China’s veto, a senior Trump Administration official said Thursday asserting that the US will continue to advocate for New Delhi’s membership in the elite grouping as it meets all the criteria.

India has been seeking entry into the 48-member elite nuclear club, which controls nuclear trade, but China has repeatedly stonewalled its bid.

While India, which is backed by the US and many western countries, has garnered the support of a majority of the group’s members, China has stuck to its stand that new members should sign the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), making India’s entry difficult as the consensus principle guides the group. India is not a signatory to the NPT.

“Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a consensus-based organisation. India has not been able to secure membership as a result of opposition from China,” Alice Wells, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, told a Washington audience.

“We have deemed that we’re not going to limit our cooperation with India based on a Chinese veto. Of course, we moved ahead with an STA One authorisation, and we certainly believe that India meets all of the qualifications of the nuclear supplier’s group and will continue to advocate on behalf of India’s membership actively, Wells said in response to a question.