Scribes expelled as revenge for NSG fiasco: Beijing state media

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 25

The relations between India and China seem to have deteriorated to a daily exchange of sharp words after the recent Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) fiasco wherein Beijing opposed Delhi’s entry into the elite club.  

Hitting out at India for expelling three Chinese journalists, the communist giant’s state-run media today alleged the real reason behind the move was India’s “revenge over to the Nuclear Suppliers Group membership issue”. 

An editorial in the Global Times (GT) also warned India of “serious consequences”. The write-up went on to justify China’s actions at the NSG: “By opposing India’s NSG membership, China is not being disrespectful to India because it obeys the rule that all NSG members are required to be signatories to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.” India, after its failure to get into the NSG, publicly said that “one country blocked its membership”. What followed has been a constant exchange of accusations and counter-accusations.

All the three Chinese journalists whose visa extension/renewal was refused by India belonged to the Xinhua news agency. They are left with no option but to leave the country. 

Sources within the government here said their visa extensions were refused because they were suspected to be impersonating to gain access to certain places and also to meet Tibetans-in-exile. The editorial dismissed these charges saying “it is completely normal for reporters to request interviews with the Dalai Lama group”. 

While the editorial said that China should stick to a “friendly strategy” with India, it, however, voiced the opinion that China must show its reaction on the visa issue. “On the visa issue this time, we should take actions to display our reaction. We at least should make a few Indians feel Chinese visas are also not easy to get.”