Beijing comes calling to seek help on South China Sea issue

Beijing: It was not long ago that China came in the way of India securing membership of the elite nuclear club, the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

But now, after blocking India's international ambitions, China is seeking New Delhi's help on the South China Sea issue.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will be arriving in India on August 12 on a three-day visit during which he is expected to lobby the Indian leadership for support on the controversial issue.

As per reports, Wang is expected to make efforts to ensure that Prime Minister Narendra Modi refrains from raising the SCS issue during the upcoming G20 meeting next month.

Other world leaders are likely to discuss the issue when they meet in the Chinese city of Hangzhou beginning September 3.

An international tribunal had recently rejected China's claims on much of the South China Sea.

While China is concerned about the issue being raised at the G20, it is also unhappy about the fact that India gave a guarded response to the verdict by saying the UN convention should be effectively implemented, The Times of India reported.

Wang's specific mission objective is to persuade the Indian leadership on refraining from becoming a part of any possible discussion on the issue at the meet.

PM Modi is likely to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Barack Obama during the G20 meeting.