Date:10/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/10/stories/2008091055991700.htm

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China says it played a responsible role at NSG meet

Pallavi Aiyar

Beijing: China insists that it played a "constructive" role at the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) meeting in Vienna last week. Responding to a question from The Hindu regarding "disappointment" expressed by some senior Indian officials at what they said was China’s obstructionist role at the meeting, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu asserted here on Tuesday that China had "taken part in the NSG discussions in a responsible and constructive manner and made a contribution to the final progress of the discussion."

The Chinese media also took a softer note on the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal on Tuesday, compared to the strident tone opted by mainstream media in the run up to the NSG meeting. An article in the official China Daily newspaper said the waiver of the ban on nuclear trade against India may prove "conducive to global cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy and non-proliferation."

This was in sharp contradistinction to a People’s Daily commentary last week, which called the nuclear deal a "major blow" to non-proliferation. Tuesday’s article, in fact, went on to quote a foreign affairs expert, Fu Xiaoqiang, as saying the waiver would "bear positive results" were India to abide by NPT rules. Mr. Fu, a senior researcher with the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, also dismissed concerns that the nuclear deal would cement a strategic partnership between India and the U.S. aimed at containing China.

"As a country that has a tradition of a non-aligned foreign policy, India will not be willing to act as a U.S. ally to contain China," he was quoted as saying.

During a routine press conference, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson also addressed the issue of whether or not Beijing supported a deal similar to the Indo-U.S. deal for Pakistan. Following the waiver for India at the NSG, China issued a statement stating it hoped that the NSG could "equally address the aspirations of all parties for the peaceful use of nuclear power." This formulation has been interpreted by some analysts as a push for a similar waiver for Pakistan.

Asked by The Hindu what China's stand regarding a special nuclear waiver for Pakistan was, Jiang Yu replied, "While implementing its international obligations China will conduct international cooperation with Pakistan on peaceful use of nuclear energy. This is strictly for peaceful purposes and will be subject to IAEA inspections."

China has already provided Islamabad with assistance in installing two nuclear power plants at Chashma in the past. Pakistan has reportedly asked for assistance with the building of a number of further such plants. Finally, commenting on the ongoing visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi to India, Ms. Jiang said during talks with his counterpart Pranab Mukherjee on Monday, both sides had agreed to "properly handle each other's concerns."

"It may prove conducive to global cooperation". "India will not be willing to act as a U.S. ally to contain China".