The Nuclear Suppliers Group, the 45 countries that govern global nuclear trade and who first came together to punish India after its 1974 atomic tests, today changed the very rules they had set to accept the reality of a rising India. The NSG signed off on an unprecedented waiver that makes India the only country outside the NPT to have a nuclear weapons programme and be able to conduct full civil nuclear cooperation with the international community.

It was also a rare occasion where US and Russia — now bitterly adversarial over the conflict in Georgia — worked together with two other nuclear powers to get a waiver for India. And yet, it did not come without fierce resistance. China, which seemed to threaten the entire process yesterday, stood up after the consensus decision was reached this morning here and read out a statement stating its “national position” that essentially urged countries to strive for a balance between non-proliferation and promoting civil nuclear energy cooperation. It also hoped that this decision would stand the test of time and that the NSG would address “aspirations” of all parties seeking peaceful use of nuclear power.

Last night, China had delivered a surprise by threatening to leave, objecting to the manner in which US was “forcing” a consensus. Clearly, Beijing decided to make its dissent open and, very quickly, countermeasures were put in place. Closely coordinating with the US, New Delhi issued a strong demarche to China in Beijing late last night. The same was conveyed to the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi this morning, which was gearing up for Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi’s visit starting tomorrow. Sources said South Block worked through the night passing on the tough message to Beijing that its position was contrary to assurances it had given at the political level that it wouldn’t come in the way of an NSG consensus for India.

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