The 26th plenary of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) ended in Seoul last week. Prior to the meeting, India’s membership bid had already generated debates. Was China blocking India’s inclusion, as most Indian experts believed? What is the standard for the NSG to include new members? Wang Qun (Wang), Director-General of the Arms Control Department of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, talked with the media about these issues.
It has been reported that at the Seoul plenary, China was blocking India’s membership. What is your comment?
Wang: The NSG has hitherto not agreed any agenda on the participation of states which have not signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). And this plenary has no such item on its agenda either. So, there is no opposing or supporting India’s membership. China, for its part, attaches great importance to the issue of how to handle the issue of non-NPT states’ participation. Under the Argentina chairmanship, China has worked hard to push comprehensive discussions on the above issue. And so far, three rounds of discussions had been conducted in the format of the Friends of Chair meetings. Despite many differences in the course of discussion, the Chinese side nevertheless believes such discussions are useful and enhance mutual understanding of relevant parties. We, for our part, wish to continue this discussion. And in the meantime, we will also participate in the discussion in a constructive manner.
What are the criteria required for the new members of the NSG?
Wang: As for the eligibility of new members of the NSG, there are five criteria covering a wide spectrum, from factors of technical to political and legal nature. The joining of the NPT is a must. The applicant state must be a party to the NPT. This is a rule not set by China, but one affirmed by the international community.
The NPT represents the cornerstone of the entire non-proliferation regime. If exceptions are allowed here or there on the question of NPT, the international non-proliferation then will be collapsed altogether.
In the absence of the NPT as the political and legal basis, it would have been inconceivable for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear issue to be reached, and moreover, it would have added huge difficulty to the implementation of the JCPOA.
And in the absence of the NPT as the political and legal basis, how can the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula be resolved? All these questions merit reflection. While it’s easy to adopt double standards, the consequences can be enormous.
What is the role of China on this issue?
Wang: As for how to address the issue of non-NPT states’ participation, this is a formidable task. Parties are far apart within the group. But China’s approach is basically two-fold.
On the one hand, the rule of the group should be respected, as such rules are not targeted against any specific countries. On the other hand, innovative ideas are needed to forge consensus.
To this end, China pushed the group to conduct informal discussions while Argentina was chair. And at this plenary, China once again pushed the group to discuss the issue of non-NPT states’ participation in an innovative format. It should be stressed that such a format is not only more formal, but also represents a major result achieved at this annual plenary. China commends the leadership role of South Korea in its capacity of chair of the group, and China for its part has also made its due contribution.
Some are saying that India is seeking NSG membership on the ground of developing nuclear energy out of the need to meet the challenges in climate changes. What is China’s view?
Wang: China understands India’s sentiment on developing nuclear energy to meet climate changes. We believe that the NPT, as the only international non-proliferation legal instrument, is not at odds with the Paris Agreement on climate change. On the contrary, they are mutually reinforcing and supportive.
There are three pillars of the NPT, one of which is to ensure the legitimate rights of a country in developing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. India has been conducting bilateral cooperation with many members of the group in nuclear energy. China also stands ready to explore cooperation in this regard so as to help India address its nuclear energy needs.http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/990873.shtml
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