New Delhi, India: September 2, 2008 –IR Summary/TNN - The Indo-US Nuclear Deal may take a dangerous turn because China does not want India to get a clean chit in the NSG meet. It has indicated that it would raise its concern in the next meet and that was earlier anticipated by some quarters. Russia and America are making their efforts to persuade China not to obstruct the clearance.

Diplomatic sources also said that US president George Bush and secretary of state Condoleezza Rice have been on the phone with leaders of objecting countries to persuade them to support the deal at the next NSG meeting.

Chinese Ambassador to India Zhang Yan, who recently visited Kerala, had said that China has no concern over the Indo-US civil nuclear deal so far New Delhi fulfills relevant international obligations, which meant that China has concern on Indo-USA Nuclear Deal in the NSG. He diplomatically hinted that India can enjoy right to  peaceful nuclear energy provided it fulfils international obligations and does anota weaken the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. 

International Reporter had already hinted that the left party in India created a great hue and cry at the instance of China and the matter went upto Parliament for undergo No Confidence Motion, how India was humiliated by the Left Party, the admirers of China’s ideology.

Chine never wanted to oppose India’s  openly, it banked on other countries, who sought for certain clarifications.  Now with the revised draft, there is virtually no change in the draft except to certain clauses made more clear and that has shocked China.

When China realized that other countries like Australia and Germany have softened their stand, China has now hooked its negative indication openly to express its concern to kill the deal.

China’s top government mouthpiece, People’s Daily , trashed the deal on Monday, saying it was a “blow to the international non-proliferation regime”.

 As per NTT, there are indications that the NSG might defer decision on the India waiver yet again and new dates of September 11-12 are already doing the rounds. Of course, it would then not be possible to move the deal into the US Congress in time and might need some urgent fiddling with the Congressional rules and calendar.
The difficulties that confronted the deal at the last meeting continue to dodge the deal this week as well. Certain countries of the NSG who sought for some clarification, are being not convinced with the changes.

On the issue of testing, the new draft, said sources, doesn’t mention the term at all, and that doesn’t clear the doubts of certain objectors. Even Japan is reported to have said that it shall be difficult for it to continue its cooperation with India if it conducts another nuclear test.

The only alternative is that India should make a  statement reaffirming its commitment to non-proliferation that it would not go for another nuclear test and if  the circumstances press it hard and completely compel India to do so, and in that case the countries who have objections may stop supplying fuel to India. 

In New Delhi on Monday, trying to counter perceptions that the US was not doing enough to push the deal, visiting US assistant secretary of state Richard Boucher said, “We are working very closely (with India) and hard on the NSG.”