China dispels hopes of early breakthrough on NSG

[Hindustani78]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/578598/india-china-hold-constructive-talks.html

Beijing/New Delhi, Oct 31, 2016 (PTI)

India and China today held "substantive and constructive" discussions on India's bid for NSG membership during the second round of talks between their top nuclear experts in Beijing.

Following the first such meeting in New Delhi on September 13, India and China continued their discussions on the NSG issue in Beijing today when JS (Disarmament and International Security) Amandeep Singh Gill met Director General of Department of Arms Control Wang Qun, sources said.

"The talks were substantive and constructive. The engagement will continue as per the directive of the leadership," sources said.

During the talks, India once again asserted to the Chinese side that its implementation of Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty (NPT) principles was "second to none".

Today's talks come ahead of a possible informal consultations in next two months on India's membership in a NSG panel, headed by Argentine Ambassador Rafael Grossi.

In the June Plenary of NSG in Seoul, despite strong American support, China stonewalled India's bid to get entry into the group on the grounds that it was a not a signatory to the NPT.

Wang, who was the Chief negotiator for China in the South Korea meet, had told reporters that signing of the NPT "is a must", maintaining that the rule has not been set by China but by the international community.

Wang had also warned "if exceptions are allowed here or there on the question of NPT, the international non- proliferation regime will collapse altogether".

China has been maintaining that the question of the non- NPT states' participation is, in essence, a multilateral issue, and can only be subject to multilateral solution by the Group.

China also pointed out that the issue of the non-NPT states' participation in the NSG raises new questions for the Group under the new circumstances, and the crux of the above question is how to address the gap between the existing policies and practices of the non-NPT states and the existing international non-proliferation rules and norms based on the NPT as the cornerstone.

 

[AndrewJin]

Why begging around for NSG?

 

[Hindustani78]

The Nuclear Suppliers Group aims to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons by restricting the sale of items that can be used to make those arms such as ballistic missiles and cruise missiles .

Republic of India is not having any track record of proliferation of nuclear weapons.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://zeenews.india.com/news/india...-admit-non-npt-states-says-china_1945432.html

Beijing: China on Tuesday said it will first find a solution that applies to all non-NPT countries seeking entry into NSG and will then discuss India's application, a day after the two country's held talks over India's bid for membership of the elite grouping.

The two sides exchanged views on the enlargement of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and other relevant issues, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing here about the second round of talks held yesterday between India and China.

The talks were held between Joint Secretary (Disarmament and International Security) Amandeep Singh Gill and his Chinese counterpart Wang Qun.

"On India's accession to the NSG, I can tell you that China's position is very clear and consistent. China attaches importance to the accession of non-Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) members into the NSG," Hua said.

"We will carry out relevant work based on the Seoul General Assembly and the inter-governmental process that is open and transparent," she said.

"We will seek a solution that applies to all Non-NPT countries and then we will discuss the specific application of relevant non-NPT country," Hua said.

She, however, did not refer to Pakistan, which has also applied for NSG membership along with India.

"We are willing to keep communication and contact with India in this regard," Hua said.

In the June Plenary of the 48-member NSG in Seoul, despite strong American support, China had stonewalled India's bid to get entry into the group on the grounds that it was a not a signatory to the NPT.

China had taken a stand that India was not a signatory to the NPT which is necessary for entry of new members into the club which controls nuclear commerce.

Yesterday's talks were the second round of dialogue between Indian and Chinese officials on India's admission into the NSG with the first round held in September.

After holding talks with India, China has held a similar round of talks with Pakistan as well.

Indian and Chinese officials had described yesterday's talks as "substantive and constructive".

PTI

First Published: Tuesday, November 1, 2016 - 15:50

 

[lonelyman]

Just sign NPT as everyone else did, America made this rule

 

[Indiran Chandiran]

Just sign NPT as everyone else did, America made this rule

We will.At a time & place of our choosing.If the NSG formed to thwart India can accommodate us with a special waiver , the very same NSG will also accept us in their ranks as a full member.Sooner or later.

 

[Surya 1]

The Chinese policy on terror is one of the worst in the world. They are making the same mistakes the Americans had done for decades.

They are people with short site. Let them do whatever they want. Modi has the medicine of everything. Look how he demolished the chinese strategy of string of pearls and encouraged small countries to show china eyes.

Just sign NPT as everyone else did, America made this rule

We are special so no need to sign anything. We will get into it without doing any sign.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...stand-on-NSG-Azhar-issues/article16797377.ece

Beijing: December 12, 2016 15:34 IST
Updated: December 12, 2016 15:34 IST

India’s diplomatic efforts to get China’s backing for NSG membership bid and getting JeM chief Masood Azhar designated as terrorist by the UN seems to be making no headway with Beijing on Monday saying its stand on the two key issues “remains unchanged”.

“As for India’s application for Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and listing issue pursuant to resolution of 1267 (to list Masood as terrorist), China’s position remains unchanged,” China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing.

His assertion that China’s stand remains unchanged on both NSG and Azhar issues was made while answering a question on Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar’s remarks at an India—China think tank forum in New Delhi last week when he said China should not give a political colour to New Delhi’s efforts to access civilian nuclear technology.

Mr. Jaishankar had also expressed dismay over the two countries not being able to come together on the issue of “fundamentalist terrorism” at critical international forums, a reference to China blocking India’s bid to get Azhar banned by the UN.

China’s second ‘technical hold’ on Azhar’s banning in UN is due to expire at the end of this month and the two countries are in talks on both the NSG and Azhar issues.

Officials here are not clear about the complex process of the UN 1267 committee where China, a veto-wielding member, has blocked India’s application twice already, while the rest of the members supported it.

On Mr. Jaishankar’s remarks that China should respect each other’s legitimate aspirations, Mr. Geng said as major developing countries it is natural that two countries need not see eye to eye on every issue.

“Thanks to the concerted efforts of China and India the strategic cooperation between the two sides have made all round progress,” he said.

“The two sides have been moving toward establishing a more closely knit strategic partnership for cooperation. As two major developing countries it is only natural for us to not see eye to eye on all issues, but the mainstream of the bilateral relationship is cooperation and the two of us are staying in communication on relevant issues,” he said.

The Chinese side is looking to work together with the Indian side to expand bilateral mutual beneficial cooperation and manage differences based on consensus reached by leaders of both countries, he said.

On the US Congress clearing the decks for India to become a Major Defence Partner of America, Mr. Geng gave a guarded reaction saying that both America and India are important countries.

“We welcome normal state to state relationship between different countries. We hope that the bilateral relationship and cooperation will be conducive to regional peace and development,” he said.

 

[beijingwalker]

Good going, China.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/586558/pakistan-wary-nsg-exemption-india.html
Islamabad, Dec 14, 2016 (PTI)

Pakistan is wary of powerful countries pressurising smaller nations to exempt India in the admission process to the NSG and feels that strategic stability in South Asia would be undermined if Pakistan's application was not treated equally with that of India.

Pakistani official suspect that powerful countries could force the smaller partners to support India's Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership bid despite a growing realisation for a criteria-based approach for joining the 48-member elite grouping.

"We are pretty confident that NSG countries would not go down the exemption way, but if they ultimately do so and give exemption to India," Director General of Disarmament at the Foreign Office Kamran Akhtar said while speaking at a workshop on 'Defence, Deterrence and Stability’ in South Asia.

"...there would be serious repercussions not just for Pakistan, but also for other non-nuclear weapon states that may feel being unjustly denied their right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy," he said.

At the same time, Pakistani officials feel encouraged by growing support in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) for establishing criteria for membership of non-NPT countries, Dawn reported.

"There are a lot of countries that now recognise the need for a criteria-based approach rather than granting exemptions, but pressures are still being exerted on smaller countries," he said.

The workshop was jointly organised by Islamabad-based think-tank Centre for International Strategic Studies (CISS) and London’s International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

Last month in Vienna NSG members, for the second time in a year, failed to reach consensus on the admission of non-NPT countries. The NSG members have been divided between countries demanding strict adherence to the NPT criteria and the bloc wanting to embrace India immediately.

A growing support within NSG has been noted for developing criteria for non-NPT states and the Chinese proposal for a two-step approach for new admissions which involves developing criteria in the first stage and then inviting applications for the membership.

He said it was now up to NSG countries to decide if they wanted the group to be seen as being driven by political and commercial interests or else they would want non-proliferation goals to be strengthened.

The official warned that strategic stability in South Asia would be undermined if Pakistani application was not treated equally with that of India.

Pakistan has been pushing for its membership in the group by adopting a uniform criteria for any new country to join NSG despite US backing for India to join through a selective wavier of conditions.

Foreign Office's Additional Secretary Tasneem Aslam said the issue of membership of non-NPT countries was deeply linked to strategic stability in South Asia.

"Today, the NSG stands at crossroads, once again, as it considers membership for non-NPT states. An even-handed and non-discriminatory approach by the NSG at this juncture would be of far-reaching significance for strategic stability in South Asia and global non-proliferation efforts," she said.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/586786/india-hopeful-un-designating-azhar.html
New Delhi, Dec 15, 2016, (PTI)

Ahead of expiry of the Chinese "hold" against designating Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar a global terrorist by the UN, India today said the "ball is in the court" of Sanctions Committee and expressed hope that it will eventually see the "logic".

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup also said that India's application seeking sanctions against Azhar was submitted in March and was before the UN's Sanctions Committee which has 15 members, who are also in security council.

"Ball is in their (Committee's) court. We remain hopeful that eventually logic of Masood Azhar (not) remaining outside the ambit of the committee when the organisation which he represents has been proscribed for many years would be seen," he said.

China had in October extended its "technical hold" on India's move to get Azhar banned by the UN. The current extension will expire on December 31 and if China does not raise further objection, the resolution designating Azhar a terrorist could stand passed automatically.

Swarup also said the recent visit of Foreign Secretary Jaishankar to the US was only in the context of raising UN-related issues with the Secretary General-designate Antonio Guterres and he did not interact with any member of the Trump Administration. In the past he has had some interactions with a few senior members of the Administration, he added.

On increasing cooperation between Pakistan and Russia, Swarup said, "We do not comment on relationship between third countries. Our own relationship with Russia is a special and privileged partnership which has been reinforced by the recent visit of President Putin to Goa in October 2016. We do not see any downward trend in our bilateral relationship.

"However, in so far as the Taliban is concerned, they have to respect the internationally agreed red lines, give up terrorism and violence, sever all ties with al Qaeda, agree to follow democratic norms and not do anything which will erode the gains of the last 15 years. Ultimately it is for the Government of Afghanistan to decide whom to talk to and how."

On the situation in Syria, the Spokesperson said India will welcome any reduction in violence and cessation of hostilities. He also stressed on an inclusive Syrian-led political dialogue, saying there can be no military solution to the conflict.

"Protection of civilians should be priority number one. We have always stood for Syria’s territorial integrity. At the same time, selective approaches to dealing with terrorist groups have had negative effect as has been proved around the world," Swarup said.

When asked about the appointment of Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson as the new US Secretary of state, Swarup said,"We have seen the reports about his appointment by US President- elect Donald Trump. We will continue to closely follow the developments leading towards firming up of his team."

 

[Hindustani78]

http://zeenews.india.com/news/india...ohammed-warns-pakistan-on-terror_1960045.html

United Nations: India has renewed its demand for international action against terror outfits Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and "their shadowy supporters".

Denouncing the two organisations, whose leadership is based in Pakistan, as affiliates of al Qaeda, India's Permanent Representative Syed Akbaruddin told the United Nations Security Council that it was imperative to take action against the support they get from outside.

In an implied criticism of China, he blamed the "split" in the UN bodies that mete out sanctions on terrorist organisations for the world body's inability to deal with the terrorism.


China has blocked India's efforts to have international sanctions imposed on Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar by a committee that takes action against al-Qaeda and its affiliates.

Azhar was behind the attack on the Pathankot air force base this year, according to the NIA chargesheet.

As a member of the Security Council, China has also provided cover for Pakistan releasing on bail Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, the LeT commander who masterminded the 2008 attack on Mumbai which killed more than 160 people. He was already on the UN list of those facing sanctions as terrorists.

"We need to address, as an imperative, the support that terrorist organizations like the Taliban, Haqqani Network, Daesh, aI-Qaeda and its designated affiliates such as Lashkar-e-Toiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed which operate entirely outside the fabric of international law draw from their shadowy supporters outside Afghanistan," Akbaruddin said.

"While the Taliban sanctions regime remains split for more than five years, the designated terrorist group makes concerted effort to capture and hold territory," he said. "Therefore, for numerous Afghan women, men and children there is no respite from the plague of terrorism."

The international community has to make "it clear that we will neither roll over in the face of terror, nor will we of allow the roll back of the achievements of the resolute people and government of Afghanistan in the last decade and a half," he said.

Quoting Rumi, Akbaruddin also warned Pakistan, "What you sow will bear fruit. If you have any sense my friend, don't plant anything but peace."


First Published: Tuesday, December 20, 2016 - 10:28

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...chargesheet/story-0dJfRWtdpqkkagkMgymVgI.html

India’s move to chargesheet Masood Azhar in the Pathankot terror attack appears to have not made much impact on China as Beijing on Wednesday said that any move by New Delhi to bring about a UN ban on the JeM chief must be in line with rules and procedures laid down by the Security Council.

“On the question of listing in the 1267 Committee, I have expressed the Chinese position many times,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told PTI in response to a question on NIA listing Azhar, the head of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad, as terrorist in the charge sheet on the attack on an air force base in Pathankot in January this year.

“Listing in the 1267 Committee must be in line with the relevant resolutions of the UNSC and the rules of procedure of the Committee,” Hua said in a written reply here.

NIA on Monday filed a charge sheet against Azhar, his brother and two others for hatching the conspiracy of the attack that killed seven personnel and injured 37 others.

Hua’s reply came as China’s second technical hold in the UN blocking India’s move to list Azhar as a terrorist under the 1267 committee rules of the UNSC is set to expire towards the end of this month.

On March 31, China, a veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council, had blocked India’s move to impose a ban on Azhar under the Sanctions Committee of the Council.

China was the only member in the 15-nation UN body to put a hold on India’s application with all other 14 members of the Council supporting New Delhi’s bid to place Azhar on the 1267 sanctions list that would subject him to an assets freeze and travel ban.

Officials here say that India may have to apply again to the 1267 committee with the charge sheet details to press for its case as its present application will lapse following Beijing’s two technical holds.

The two countries have been holding talks on China’s blocking Azhar’s case as well as India’s application to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

The talks appears to have not made much headway as China on December 12 said there is no change in both the cases.

“As for India’s application for Nuclear Suppliers Group and listing issue pursuant to resolution of 1267 (to list Azhar as terrorist) China’s position remains unchanged,” another Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang had said.

His assertion that China’s stand remained unchanged in both NSG and Azhar’s cases was made while answering a question on Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar’s remarks last week at India-China think tank forum in New Delhi that China should not give a political colour to New Delhi’s efforts to access civilian nuclear technology, in reference to Beijing’s opposition to its NSG bid.

Jaishankar had also expressed dismay over the two countries not being able to come together on the issue at critical international forums, a reference to China blocking the ban in the UN on Azhar.



The Council is composed of 15 Members:

• five permanent members: China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States,
• and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly (with end of term date):
  • Angola (2016)
  • Egypt (2017)
  • Japan (2017)
  • Malaysia (2016)
  • New Zealand (2016)
  • Senegal (2017)
  • Spain (2016)
  • Ukraine (2017)
  • Uruguay (2017)
  • Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (2016)

 

[lonelyman]

Stop begging and move on

 

[Hindustani78]

http://zeenews.india.com/india/chin...-india-calls-it-double-standards_1962993.html
New Delhi: China has once again blocked proposal to designate Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar a global terrorist by the United Nations.


With Beijing blocking its move to list JeM chief Masood Azhar as a UN designated terrorist, India today said the development reflected "double standards" in the fight against terrorism and was "surprising" as China was itself a victim of terrorism.


Taking strong action to China's decision, MEA said, “Chinese action confirms prevalence of double standards in the fight against terrorism.”


Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, “Decision by China to block proposal to list Masood Azhar as a terrorist is surprising as Beijing itself is affected by scourge of terrorism.”

Asserting that its submission received the strong backing of all other members of the 15-member Sanctions Committee, External Affairs Ministry said, "We note with concern China's decision to block the proposal to list Masood Azhar...

"The international community is aware that the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed which is proscribed by the United Nations, has been responsible for innumerable terrorist attacks on India including the Pathankot Air Base attack. The inability of the international community to list its leader Masood Azhar is an unfortunate blow to the concerted efforts to effectively counter all forms of terrorism, and confirms prevalence of double standards in the fight against terrorism," New Delhi said.

India had submitted an application seeking sanctions against Azhar, which was before the UN's Sanctions Committee which has 15 members, who are also in the Security Council.

China had in October extended its "technical hold" on India's move to get Azhar banned by the UN. The current extension was scheduled to expire on December 31 and if China had not raised a further objection, the resolution designating Azhar a terrorist could have stand passed automatically.

Recently, the NIA filed charges against JeM chief and three others for plotting and executing the January 2 terror attack at an IAF base in Pathankot in Punjab.

Azhar and others have been accused of setting up terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir to carry out terror attacks on India.


First Published: Friday, December 30, 2016 - 17:20

http://zeenews.india.com/india/indi...esolutions-on-azhars-issue-china_1963008.html

Beijing: China on Friday said India should conform to relevant UN Security Council resolutions on listing JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, a day before its technical hold blocking India's move to get him proscribed by the UN expires.

"I have repeated a number of times, when it comes to the listing matter of the UN Security Council 1267 Committee, we believe it should conform with relevant Security Council resolutions and the Committee's rules of procedure," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told PTI.

Hua, however, said she has to verify what China will do when its second technical hold ends.

She had given the same response on December 2 while reacting to India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) charge-sheeting Azhar in the Pathankot attack case.

"Listing in the 1267 Committee must be in line with the relevant resolutions of the UNSC and the rules of procedure of the Committee," Hua said.

China, a veto wielding member of the UNSC, had blocked India's move with a six month technical hold followed by a three month extension.

Officials here say that India may have to apply again to the 1267 Committee with the charge sheet details to press for its case as its present application will lapse following Beijing's two technical holds.

The two countries have been holding talks on the issue as well as India's application to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). The talks have not made much headway as China on December 12 had said there is no change in its stand on both the cases.

The UN had banned the JeM in 2001 but India's efforts for a ban on Azhar after the 2008 Mumbai terror attack also did not fructify as China did not allow the ban apparently at the behest of Pakistan again.

China was the only member in the 15-nation UN body to put a hold on India's application with all other 14 members of the Council supporting New Delhi's bid to place Azhar on the 1267 sanctions list that would subject him to an assets freeze and travel ban.


First Published: Friday, December 30, 2016 - 18:26