India raises NSG, JeM with China

In talks with visiting Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi, India on Saturday raised concerns on three important issues – China blocking India’s membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), China’s “technical hold” on India’s move to get a UN ban on terror outfit JeM chief Masood Azhar and the China-Pakistan economic corridor.

Even as the two countries agreed on setting up a new foreign secretary-level mechanism to discuss ties as well as a meeting of the countries’ “Director Generals of Disarmament”, the Chinese minister, apparently, did not raise Beijing’s concerns on the South China Sea.

The Chinese minister met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday for 20 minutes and held three-hour talks with external affairs minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj. The government sources said there were “lengthy discussions” on India’s membership bid of the NSG wherein India “offered to discuss any technical issues China may have”, indicating that India is still trying to persuade China to drop its objections to India’s bid. India also “urged” China to “revisit” its stand regarding terrorist Masood Azhar whom Beijing recently sought to save from action by the UN. Sources said the talks between the two foreign ministers were held with a “positive, constructive and open spirit”.

“There were lengthy discussions on India’s NSG membership. The EAM (Sushma Swaraj) outlined the importance of meeting our clean energy goals in the context of COP-21 (Paris Summit on climate change). India offered to discuss any technical issues China may have. It was agreed that the DGs of Disarmament of the two countries would meet soon,” added sources. This was in the context of Chinese insistence on India signing the NPT for NSG membership.

Sources further said, “China’s technical hold on listing of Masood Azhar in the UNSC 1267 Committee was also taken up (by India). China has been urged to revisit its technical hold in line with its own professed zero-tolerance towards terrorism,” adding, “The EAM conveyed India’s concerns on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and a new mechanism at level of foreign secretaries was agreed on to discuss ties.”

The two sides also reviewed the situation on the border and discussed further steps to strengthen peace and tranquillity. They also discussed preparations for the Brics summit to be held in Goa in October as well as the forthcoming G-20 summit to be held in China next month. There were also discussions on expanding investments, infrastructure, “easier visas”, tourism and cultural as well as academic interactions.

China had scuttled India’s bid for membership of the NSG at the plenary meeting of the 48-nation grouping in June in Seoul on the grounds that it was not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), evoking a strong reaction from India. Without naming China then, India had indicated that one country had put a roadblock to its NSG membership.

Working in tandem with its all-weather friend Pakistan, China had also earlier blocked India’s move to get a UN ban on terror outfit JeM chief Masood Azhar.

In his call on with PM Modi, the Chinese foreign minister briefed him on G20 Summit to be held in China in September. “The Prime Minister conveyed his greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping,” sources said.

Regional and international issues including implications of Brexit, situation in the Korean Peninsula, matters pertaining to the UN Security Council also figured in the talks between the two foreign ministers. Mr. Wang Yi had arrived in Goa on Friday on a three-day visit to India. He had met Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and discussed preparations for the BRICS summit. The Chinese Foreign Minister arrived in New Delhi on Friday night.