New Delhi keeps China guessing on Beijing meet

New Delhi: India is turning on the heat on China, with New Delhi — till Wednesday evening at least — not confirming participation so far in China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) conference in Beijing this month. The recent meeting between US Democrat leader and head of the bipartisan Congressional delegation Nancy Pelosi with the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala also is also an indication that New Delhi is now cool towards Beijing’s concerns after the rebuff to India by China on the issues of NSG membership and UN sanctions against Pakistan-based terrorist Masood Azhar.

China has lashed out at the United States over the meeting with the Dalai Lama. In another move, India has also conducted a maritime security dialogue with the United States. Both India and the US are worried over increasing Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea and Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

On Wednesday evening, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) had said that the Chinese invitation to attend the OBOR conference is still under consideration. Speculation is also mounting that New Delhi may not attend the meet although participation at this stage is still not completely ruled out.