In juxtapose to External Affairs Minister Susuhma Swaraj's statement that China doesn't oppose India's membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), but is speaking about procedure, leading defence expert C. Uday Bhaskar on Monday said Beijing is only using the procedural issue as an excuse, fundamentally, it is not convinced or willing to support India's nuclear profile.
"As an analyst, I have slightly different assessment of the whole issue. My reading is that China is only using the procedural issue as an excuse. Fundamentally, China is not convinced or willing to support India's nuclear profile," Uday Bhaskar told ANI.
"As far as I can make out, China is fundamentally 'opposed' to India's profile being acknowledged which is why I think they are using the kind of excuses that they are now and there is also the whole Pakistan factor," he added.
"It's not just the NSG; I go back to a very basic point that China doesn't acknowledge India as a state with nuclear weapons and there is a certain disdain, China is very disparaging about India's nuclear profile and India's nuclear aspirations," said Uday Bhaskar.
"Therefore, this question about the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is just an excuse, because it has been pointed out repeatedly that when France became the founding member of the NSG in mid 1970s, it had not signed the NPT but yet it had nuclear weapons. So, if anything strengthens the case of India that India has nuclear weapons, India is a non-signatory to the NPT, so you can use the precedent of France to make the case for India. So, I think, much as we respect what Mrs Swaraj has said I would say I have a different view on it," he added.
Swaraj on Sunday insisted that China is not blocking India's entry to the NSG, but is talking about the criteria and procedures.
"The NSG entry is crucial for India's energy policy. China is not blocking India's entry to the NSG. It is only talking about criteria and procedures. I am hopeful that we would be able to convince China to support our entry to the NSG," Swaraj said.
The External Affairs Minister asserted India is not going to oppose entry of any nation to the NSG, adding that their application should be considered on merit basis.
"As far as entry of Pakistan is concerned, India, being a non-member of the NSG, cannot comment on their entry and their role. But we will not oppose entry of any nation to the NSG and will support their bid. We think that the application of each country should be considered on the basis of their merit," she said.
Swaraj also expressed hope that by the end of this year, India will become a member of the 48-nation club dedicated to curbing nuclear arms proliferation by controlling the export and re-transfer of materials that could foster nuclear weapons development.
"I think that there is a consensus which is being made and I am sure that India will become the member of the NSG this year," she said.
"We have been engaged with the NSG since last 12 years and there have been talks of our membership with the group since last five years. But the situation is different this year.Our argument is that we got the waiver in 2008 and before that the criteria and the process was decided and based on that criteria only we got the waiver. I think instead of talking about criteria with respect to our bid, our credentials and our track record should be discussed," she added while addressing a press conference highlighting her ministry's achievements in the last two years.
Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar made a two-day trip to China on June 16 and 17 to discuss India's NSG membership with his Chinese counterpart.
This visit came days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on June 23 when both leaders will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation leaders' meeting in Tashkent.
China has maintained that more talks were needed to build a consensus on which countries can join the 48-nation NSG following the United States' push to include India in the elite group.
The countries, who oppose India's membership, argue that its inclusion in the group would further undermine efforts to prevent proliferation and also infuriate New Delhi's rival Pakistan.
Islamabad, which enjoys the backing of its close ally China, has also responded to India's membership bid and asked for its admission as well.
The decision on Indian membership will only be decided at the NSG plenary meeting in Seoul scheduled on June 23 and 24.
While reports surfaced that Beijing would try its best to stop India's entry into the group, Washington has already vouched its full support during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to United States last week.
