China’s Attempt To Contain India’s Nuclear Program Collapses

For most Indians, China’s opposition to a clean waiver to India for supply of nuclear fuel at the Nuclear Supply Group (NSG) meet in Vienna came as a surprise, to others it was plain logic.

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Given the dominance that China has come to acquire in Asia, rise of another nation that abides by democratic traditions is an open challenge to a neighboring country governed by brute force.

For China, keeping India tied to Pakistan suited its ambitions in the Asian theater.

With India having been granted a clean waiver by the nuclear supply cartel, on the one hand it does indicate its rise as global power and on the other it breaks down any comparison that has always been wrongly made between India and Pakistan.

Though not being party to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) or the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) India unlike China or Pakistan has a track record of a responsible nuclear power.

China role in propping up the Pakistan’s nuclear program is suspect and Pakistan’s role as the World’s top nuclear proliferator is well documented.

At the negotiating table the final push to overcome opposition from China probably came by it being exposed as having assisted Pakistan and other countries in their nuclear programs.

Taking India on board in the nuclear club does not solve all the energy or technology needs of its fast growing economy but by diverting its resources into developing alternative energy sources puts lesser pressure on global oil supply, something that is shaking up many global economies.

China’s attempt to thwart India’s ambition first by buttressing domestic opposition and then by taking off the velvet gloves when it came to pushing the deal through at Vienna lays bear the masks and the seeds of distrust that exist between these Asian giants.