After blocking UN ban on Masood Azhar, China appoints new envoy to India

Beijing: Amid fresh tensions between the two countries over India's attempts at the United Nations to designate JeM chief Masood Azhar as global terrorist, China has appointed Luo Zhaohui as its new ambassador to India.

Lou's appointment by President Xi Jinping is in consonant with the decision of the National People's Congress' Standing Committee, China's top legislature.

The 54-year-old diplomat earlier served as the country's envoy to Canada from 2014 to 2016, the state-run Xinhua reported.

Luo had also served as the director general of the Department of Asian Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2011 to 2014.

Former Chinese ambassador to India Le Yucheng had left New Delhi in April.

The appointment comes amid fresh tension between the two countries over Pakistan-based Masood Azhar whom India perceive as the fountain head of terror.

China on Saturday defended its “second technical hold” to prevent a UN ban on Masood Azhar, saying there were "different views" on India's application and that Beijing's move will allow more time for the "relevant parties" to have consultations.

Reacting to India's criticism that its second hold on attempts to ban Azhar sends a dangerous message, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that the listing application member states submitted to the 1267 Committee of UN "must comply" with specific requirements of relevant resolutions of UN Security Council (UNSC).

Though China is the lone member among the 15-member UNSC to oppose the ban on Azhar, Beijing claims that "different views" existed about India's application against Azhar.

"There are still different views on India's listing application made this March.

The technical hold on it will allow more time for the Committee to deliberate on the matter and for relevant parties to have further consultations," the ministry said in a written reply to PTI to a question.

The reference to "further consultations" apparently referred to direct consultations between India and Pakistan over the issue.

China had put the first technical hold six months ago on India's application following Azhar's alleged involvement in the Pathankot terrorist attack.

China had extended the second technical hold valid for three months during this week despite several consultations between New Delhi and Beijing at various levels.

(With agency inputs)