India sees red as China voices n-deal concerns

The Times of India
Sep 2, 2008

NEW DELHI: The odds are lengthening on the Indian nuclear deal as the opposition in the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group refuses to die down and India sticks to its “red lines” on refusing the amendments. In a clear sign of the growing challenge, China has indicated to the NSG that it would make its “concerns” regarding the Indian nuclear deal clear at the next meeting. As a precursor, China’s top government mouthpiece, People’s Daily , trashed the deal on Monday, saying it was a “blow to the international non-proliferation regime”. 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.