China is reportedly leading the opposition to stop United States and other major powers from including India into the 48-member Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG), which would allow India to access nuclear technology from NSG members.

Apart from China, other nations opposing India's membership include New Zealand, Ireland, Turkey, South Africa and Austria. The opposing countries stress that India's inclusion into the NSG would seriously undermine nuclear proliferation as India has not signed the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

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"By bringing India on board, it's a slap in the face of the entire non-proliferation regime," a diplomat from a particular bloc said on the basis of anonymity.

The opposition against India's entry into the NSG also hails from the fact that it would infuriate its archrival Pakistan, who is also vying for an NSG seat. China has already stated that it won't support India's NSG membership unless Islamabad is also allowed to join the elite nuclear group.

India's eligibility for NSG membership will be decided at the NSG plenary meeting in Seoul on June 20. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has reportedly written letters to members asking them "not to block consensus on Indian admission to the NSG."         

However, Kerry's letter has had minimum impact on China. "China, if anything, is hardening (its position)," a top diplomat said. Kerry is said to have dashed out the letter before U.S. President Obama met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently on an official tour in the U.S.  

Meanwhile, various Indian media outlets report that the current diplomatic hurdles created by China are proving too stiff for India and India may have to wait a little while longer to become a member of the NSG.

Tagschina, NSG, China and India, Nuclear Supplier Group, India NSG, India, India Nuclear Suppliers Group