First the H1B visa restrictions, and now this?
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...s-nsg-bid-with-china/articleshow/58597078.cms
Trump administration silent on whether it raised India's NSG bid with China
WASHINGTON: The
Trump administration on Tuesday kept mum on whether it raised the issue of India's
NSG bid with the top Chinese leadership, but said it supports India's "full membership" to the four multilateral export control regimes.
China is the only major country which has been blocking India's entry into the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group.
The previous US administrations - that of the presidents George W Bush and
Barack Obama - had put India's NSG membership on top of their top priorities.
"Since 2010, the US has made clear our support for India's full membership in the four multilateral export control regimes," a State Department spokesperson told PTI.
The spokesperson was asked about the efforts being done by the US for India becoming a member of the NSG.
The
White House did not respond to a question whether India's bid for NSG membership was raised by the Trump administration with the Chinese leadership.
Trump, last month, had a successful Summit with his Chinese counterpart
Xi Jinping in Florida and had several phone calls with him.
Trump has said several times in the public domain that he enjoys a very good relationship with Xi.
However, issues like India's membership to NSG is yet to figure in the talking points between the top officials of the Trump administration and those from the Chinese leadership.
Secretary of State Rex
Tillerson also visited China and has had several rounds of talks with his Chinese counterparts.
Publicly, both Trump and Tillerson have said
North Korea and trade issues have been dominating their talks with China.
China is advocating a two-step "non-discriminatory" approach for admission of countries who have not signed nuclear-Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in the NSG.
As per the new stand announced by
Beijing in November, it first wants to find a solution that is applicable to the admission of all non-NPT members followed by discussions to admit specific non-NPT member.
China's stand for a non-discriminatory criteria is regarded significant as Pakistan, a close ally of Beijing, too has applied for the NSG membership along with India.