In a move that potentially puts India's elephants at risk, China was on Tuesday approved as trading partner for stockpiles of ivory from Africa by the 57th Standing Committee meeting of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) in Geneva. A decision was taken to allow 108 tonnes of ivory, from Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe to be sold to China as a possible partner; before this, Japan was approved as a trading partner, which means an auction will be held to decide which country purchases the ivory. The decision is set to increase the market value of the much-coveted tusks. "We are now headed towards a bidding war between China and Japan. This will mean the market price of ivory will go up. This sale will put Asian elephants at tremendous risk,' Mary Rice from the Environmental Investigation Agency speaking from Geneva told The Indian Express. India's delegation to the convention also raised a strong objection to the proposal since legal trade in ivory is detrimental to survival of the species.'We believe that legal trade in ivory will lead to increase in demand for poached products. This is very detrimental to conservation,' says AN Prasad, inspector general of forests, Project Elephant. "There is no way of telling what is Indian or African ivory. China's record of vigilance on wildlife products is very poor. Tonnes of ivory have disappeared in the black market. Though the African nations say that selling the stock will ease demand, purchase by either China or Japan will pose a threat to the Asian elephant and may fuel poaching,' pointed out Ashok Kumar, vice chairman, Wildlife Trust of India.