China's tough stand on non-proliferation treaty as the benchmark for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) has created a huge challenge for the US over non-proliferation norms.

It is expected that the ongoing tussle between US and China for global leadership will keep India's case alive at the Seoul meeting of the nuclear trading bloc.

The attitude adopted by China over India's NSG application has also forced many ountries to look for compromise solutions, some of which India fears could delay its accession by years. For its part, India is now looking or a clean accession agreement keeping its legal commitments, non-proliferation record and energy demand in mind.

"Within the group of the NSG, members have different opinions regarding whether or not non-NPT countries can join," the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said. "Therefore we are now talking about non-NPT members joining NSG as a whole instead of specific non-NPT nations' accession."

Meanwhile, Beijing's strategy to club non-NPT nations like Pakistan with India always increases the challenge for the US as Beijing signals its determination to determine strategic equations in its neighbourhood, the Asia-Pacific and even beyond. The US leadership on non-proliferation helped in getting India a waiver from NSG in 2008 to engage in nuclear commerce, but China challenged that openly in 2016.

China, however, pushed Pakistan's case upfront and by doing this it prevented a consensus in India's favour. It has also forced the US to consider where Islamabad's interests -in confluence with China- be allowed to prevail.

China and Turkey has similar position, with Ankara now saying that is leaning in favour of giving India access to NSG but along with Pakistan.

Turkey's ambassador to India Burak Akcapar said: "We have no concerns with regard to India's proliferation record. We are a strong advocate of non-proliferation. All countries should be able to join NSG based on same principles. Admission procedures must be determined expeditiously."