Nepal’s China Policy

April 5, 2005
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By Jan Sharma

Chinese leaders traditionally used to shower compliments on Nepal and its leaders for assiduously defending sovereign independence. Such references have become rare in recent times.

“We have always been happy to have a good neighbor in Nepal,” said Chinese Vice Premier Chen Yi while on a Nepal visit in March 1965. “The Nepalese people are very industrious and courageous.”

“They have never bowed their heads before foreign oppressors and interventionists. His Majesty King Mahendra is an outstanding statesman. He is filled with lofty aspirations to bring prosperity to his country and the determination to safeguard independence and sovereignty.”

August this year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic ties with China. Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing visits on the eve of the celebrations, the first high level visit since the Royal takeover in February.

The momentous event in the Nepalese diplomatic history should also be an occasion for Nepal to formulate a coherent and consistent China policy. Nepal recently has only been reactive whereas it needs to be pro-active to meet the new regional and global challenges.

Such a China policy is already emerging, as recent corrective decisions indicate. These include the closing down of the Dalai Lama’s Office next to the Royal Palace operating since 1959 and the handing over to Chinese Tibetans illegally entering Nepal.

Nepal has also extended “unequivocal support” to China on the anti-session law approved by the Chinese parliament by an overwhelming vote to curb the Taiwanese moves towards independence, by force if necessary.

Kathmandu also reiterated its official position that Taiwan was “an integral part of the People’s Republic of China.”

These measures come in the backdrop of attempted strangulation of Nepal by India backed by Britain and the United States for reviving anarchy in the name of democracy. These measures should be independent of Nepal’s relations with other countries.

Emerging Triangles

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing. nepalnews.com

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing. nepalnews.com
Nepal’s China policy should be independent of the state of her relations with other countries, including India. This is especially important in the context of evolving strategic alliances among regional and international powers affecting Nepal and South Asia.

Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov during his 1998 visit to India offered to form a “strategic triangle” among China, Russia and India. Russia, trapped between North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and a rising China, aspires for a greater geo-strategic role.

China dismissed the proposal outright because in its correct assessment, the Russian proposal sought to undermine Washington’s strategic importance in a unipolar world. Beijing is seeking to foster closer cooperation with Washington, especially after 9/11.

President Hu Jintao has focused on the development of a “healthy and stable relationship” between China and the United States on the basis of “cooperative engagement” that President George Bush has promised.

Beijing seems to be keen on a constructive United States-Pakistan-China triangle as a factor in the promotion of regional stability and a balance of power in South Asia. In the long-term, Nepal should tab on the emerging Tokyo-Washington-Beijing triangle.

Four Point Proposal

It would be prudent for Nepal to foster closer and substantive ties with Tokyo, Washington, and more importantly, with China. It should look towards these global powers not just as role model but also expedite implementation of cooperation projects.

When Crown Prince Paras visited China in August 2004, he personally handed over a letter from King Gyanendra to President Hu, inviting him to visit Nepal. The invitation was accepted but a “suitable date” has yet to been finalized.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed during the visit to implement four projects relating to economic and technical cooperation, optical fiber cable between Kathmandu and Khasa, Ayurvedic Medicine Research Center and second ring road in Kathmandu.

The progress in implementing them has been painfully slow. When King Gyanendra visited China in July 2002, President Jiang Zemin presented a four-point proposal to further strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation between the two countries.

The proposal included (a) active exchanges and visits, (b) a more comprehensive economic cooperation, (c) increased cooperation between Tibet and Nepal, and (d) strengthening of coordination, contacts and cooperation in regional and global affairs.

The speedy and unambiguous implementation of Jiang’s four-point proposal would go a long way in deepening and further strengthening bilateral ties between Nepal and China independent of the state of Nepal’s bilateral relations with India or other countries.