Visit of Nepali PM to China-Perspectives and takeaways
China and Nepal, neighbouring countries in South Asia, established diplomatic relations in 1955 and have maintained a strong and friendly relationship ever since. Despite having different social systems and sizes, China and Nepal have always upheld mutual respect, equality, solidarity, mutual assistance, and a win-win situation. Their relationship is often described as age-old, deep-rooted, and cordial.
Over the years, both countries have strengthened their relationship through numerous bilateral visits. Recently, from September 23 to September 28, 2023, the Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, visited the People's Republic of China (PRC) for eight days. His visit was at the invitation of Li Qiang, the Premier of the State Council of the PRC. During the visit, Prachanda had meetings with Xi Jinping, the President of the PRC; Li Qiang, the Premier; and Zhao Leji, the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.
On September 26, 2023, a joint statement was issued, highlighting 13 key points discussed during the meetings. The statement emphasised the importance of multilateralism, promoting democracy in international relations, ensuring fair governance, and a commitment to enhancing cooperation within the United Nations.
During the various meetings, both China and Nepal reiterated their commitment to respecting and accommodating each other's concerns and core interests. China expressed its support for Nepal in upholding its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Additionally, China pledged to assist Nepal in graduating from its status as a least developed country (LDC) and in transforming from a landlocked country to a land-linked country. These commitments were reiterated multiple times throughout the meetings.
In terms of infrastructure, the two countries discussed various projects. They agreed to jointly build the Trans-Himalayas Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network and welcomed the reopening of the Lizi Nechung Port and the Zhangmu Khasa Port. The statement also mentioned that the construction of the Jilong 220 KV Cross-Border Power Transmission Line will be launched soon.
Furthermore, several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between China and Nepal. These MoUs included the establishment of a joint technical working group to review and modify the Trade and Payment Agreement. The MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries was also renewed. Additionally, MoUs were signed related to cooperation in areas such as culture, tourism, the digital economy, green and low-carbon development, agriculture, livestock, and fisheries. Other agreements were made in the fields of science, technology, innovation, and human resource development.
But, the recent visit of Prachanda to China has sparked intense discussions regarding the outcomes for each nation resulting from this diplomatic engagement. Many analysts argue that China gained significantly more from this visit than Nepal. To comprehend this, it's crucial to delve into the core issues concerning China: Tibet, Taiwan, the One China policy, and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
China's concerns about Tibet and Taiwan are deeply rooted in its commitment to maintaining territorial integrity and suppressing any challenges to its control over these regions. Tibet is perceived as an autonomous region within China, and any indication of support for Tibetan independence in neighbouring countries, like Nepal, raises suspicion in Beijing. Similarly, China vehemently opposes Taiwanese independence, fearing that foreign backing for Taiwan undermines its diplomatic efforts to isolate the island.
Additionally, China has expressed worries about Nepal's involvement in the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), fearing external influence and interference in its internal affairs. Furthermore, the lack of progress in implementing BRI projects in Nepal has strained bilateral relations, leading China to seek assurances regarding Nepal's commitment to these initiatives. It is important to mention that while Nepal eagerly joined the BRI in 2017, no substantial projects under the initiative have commenced in Nepal.
During the visit, Nepal made several significant statements to address China's concerns. First, Prime Minister Prachanda reaffirmed Nepal's adherence to the One China principle, recognising the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the sole legal government representing all of China. Second, Nepal openly opposed Taiwan's independence, regarding it as an integral part of China's territory. Furthermore, Nepal acknowledged Tibet as an internal affair of the PRC and pledged not to allow any separatist activities against China on its soil.
Regarding the BRI, the joint statement emphasised both countries' commitment to expedite consultations for its implementation. The statement underscored the urgency by using terms such as “accelerate” (4 times), “expedite” (3 times), “as soon/early as possible” (5 times), “early date” (6 times), and “early/earliest” (3 times), emphasising the need to set early dates for the initiative's execution.
Nepal also clarified its stance on China's global initiatives, including the Global Development Initiative (GDI). Nepal affirmed its commitment to the GDI and supported the initiative. Although the joint statement did not explicitly mention the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), China's support for Chinese language education, Confucius Institutes, and cultural exchanges indicated that Nepal would likely be part of the GCI in the future. Nepal reiterated its commitment to the non-aligned principle regarding the Global Security Initiative (GSI). It's noteworthy that these initiatives, announced by Xi Jinping over the past three years, marked China's engagement with the world on its own terms, covering various aspects like infrastructure connectivity, policy, trade, financial, and people-to-people connectivity.
However, an essential issue highlighted Nepal's position concerning China. Nepal raised concerns about the Standard Map of China, which had omitted territories such as Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani—territories that Nepal officially incorporated into its map in 2020. Notably, India also claims these territories and currently administers them. Nepal, as a smaller neighbour of China, expected Beijing to address these concerns about the map. Surprisingly, this matter was not mentioned in the joint statement. This omission underscored the pressure exerted by China on Nepal to align with its strategic and security priorities.
On one side, Nepal's willingness to set aside this issue indicated improving relations between the two countries, especially as China sought to counter the growing influence of India and the United States in Nepal. Yet, Nepal's inability to convince China to include the map issue in the joint statement highlighted a classic case of larger countries ignoring the concerns of their smaller neighbours.
Pic Courtsey-Raimand Klavins at unsplash.com
(The views expressed are those of the author and do not represent views of CESCUBE.)
