Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'How long will India be kept out of NSG?' that was published in Newsband

How long will India be kept out of NSG?

China has announced that it intends to oppose India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group unless it agrees to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Several major countries including the U.S., Russia, Germany, the U.K. and Australia have openly backed the bid, despite the fact that India is not a signatory to the NPT, widely considered to be a key criterion for NSG membership. Clearly, China’s stand is a combination of its fraught relations with India as well as its desire that its “all-weather friend” Pakistan not be disadvantaged in the process.

However, this is not the end of the road for India’s NSG ambitions. China has been an adamant neighbour to India and its expansionary mind set is not new to the world. China is rising as an axial power in the modern world and it is using Pakistan only as an easy bet against India. Members must understand this and pose India as the opposite power pivot. We must show aggressive stance to bypass the nation. Only diplomatic showdown will be just futile as it has been. India must form dependable alliance with countries like European nations and US to sideline China. This would need business tie ups and also may be limiting trade relations with the nation and replace others with same import or export. If China is trying to be an open obstacle, let India build the great wall to keep this ill willed country at bay.

China has struck blow at the opportune moment by objecting India to the membership. It has been waiting in the wings observing USA coming closer to India and flexing its muscles. The Chinese position is a combination of its 'fraught' relation with us as well as its desire to protect the interests of its 'taller than the tallest mountain' friend, Pakistan. China has been ‘civilizationally’ convinced that India is its real competitor. China has displayed all the characteristics that Sardar Patel warned Nehru of in a prescient letter in November 1950, which of course Nehru ignored, all of which have come true since then. Pakistan or not, the Chinese behaviour would have been the same. Pakistan simply comes as its handy tool.

China’s opposition has a pattern. It opposed us getting membership in ASEAN, RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership), East Asia Summit (EAS) etc. On the other hand, India was in the forefront for China’s UN Membership including by refusing the UNSC seat when it was offered to us since China was excluded! Today, China is the only P-5 country that opposes our membership in UNSC. It condones terrorism against us by ‘protecting’ Pakistani terrorists. We have always paid a price due to our naivety. After the waiver, NSG is a natural next step. A country like us cannot be kept out for too long.
(Visit Dinesh Kamath's Blog: dkamath.blogspot.in)