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India-U.S. deal “a blow to non-proliferation”

Beijing: People’s Daily, mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party of China, on Monday described the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal as a “major blow” to non-proliferation.

The article criticised the “multiple standards” followed by the U.S. on non-proliferation when it agreed to sign the deal with India.

“Irrespective of the fate of the U.S.-India nuclear agreement, the United States’ multiple standards on non-proliferation issues have met with a sceptical world,” said the article written by a scholar of a state-run think tank.

“Whether it is motivated by geopolitical considerations or commercial interests, the U.S.-India nuclear agreement has constituted a major blow to the international non-proliferation regime,” the paper said in the opinion pages.

The paper said the initial proposal made by the U.S. to the NSG was “vague.” It complained that the deal allowed New Delhi to continue with nuclear tests “as there is no constraining link between supply of nuclear materials and India conducting a nuclear test.” — PTI

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