Much more still remains to be done to amplify Nepal-China relations and quite frankly the onus is on Kathmandu
– By Bhaskar Koirala
Bhaskar Koirala Nepal’s foreign policy towards China has been remarkably shallow and seemingly incapable of grasping the great potentiality that exists in strengthening and diversifying its bilateral relationship with the northern neighbor. A solid, coherent China policy has yet to emerge in Nepal.
Efforts on the part of Nepal to engage in more substantively broad-based and dynamic relations with the People’s Republic of China will almost certainly lead to the arousal of certain Indian sensitivities. Nepali officials must genuinely and concertedly seek to address any concerns that India may have in this respect, as a good neighbor and for the sake of transparency and understanding, as also for the conduct of effective diplomacy.
The tradition of ‘balancing’ or ‘playing off’ India and China must be jettisoned by Nepal in favor of a muscular and sophisticated foreign policy that is actively pragmatic yet not adversely detrimental to the core interests of its two great neighbors. The late King Birendra’s conceptualization of Nepal as a ‘Zone of Peace’ should be reasserted in an effort to ‘retrieve’ the sovereign capability of the country to exercise its foreign diplomacy in a manner that furthers Nepal’s core national interests.
Lately, assertions have emanated from nearly all sections of the Nepali political class of excessive external interference and meddling in Nepali domestic affairs, yet it is firmly in the hands of our principal political custodians themselves to put a swift halt to such perceived activity simply by arriving at some consensus on Nepal’s national interests as they intersect with the country’s international affairs.
Even as Nepal’s peace process moves forward and critical agenda relating to Constituent Assembly and arms management are deliberated upon, Nepalis must resolve to hold an equally important assembly or conference that focuses specifically on Nepal’s foreign relations and policies. Nepal must conceive of an integrated plan to provide a broad coherence and consistency to its foreign policy.
Even as Nepal’s peace process moves forward and critical agenda relating to Constituent Assembly and arms management are deliberated upon, Nepalis must resolve to hold an equally important assembly or conference that focuses specifically on Nepal’s foreign relations and policies. Nepal must conceive of an integrated plan to provide a broad coherence and consistency to its foreign policy. A certain institutional framework must be devised which ‘steers’ Nepal’s international affairs, regardless of who is in the seat of power. Otherwise, Nepal’s foreign policy will be like a rudderless ship, just drifting and unable to stake positions that shall deliver the country benefits not just in the short and medium terms but over the very long haul.
Nepal’s relations with China have been insufficiently explored and delineated. This is of considerable regret but the opportunity is certainly not lost for the taking. Foremost is the great friendship that can be established among the ordinary people of Nepal and China, in the context of the vast amount of goodwill that exists between the two countries. It would be a significant achievement in itself to create increasingly more platforms and mechanisms for the peoples of China and Nepal to interact and deepen their friendship.
An overland journey across the Tibet Autonomous Region, from the capital city of Lhasa to our own capital of Kathmandu, demonstrates most vividly the proximity and natural/cultural contiguity of the two countries. Equally, it becomes starkly clear how much more still remains to be done to amplify Nepal-China relations, and quite frankly the onus is on Kathmandu. The dilapidated road just across the Chinese border in Khasa, through to Tatopani and along the Bhotekosi river, is reflective of the neglect on the part of Nepal to the substantial opportunities that exist vis-à-vis a thriving Chinese state.
Chinese scientists have confirmed the existence of substantial crude oil reserves in both the Tibet Autonomous Region and in the adjacent western province of Xinjiang. Preliminary estimates by China land resources surveys indicate the presence of both oil and gas in the Qiangtang basis in the Tibet plateau. A 2005 report indicated crude oil output in excess of 10 million tons in the oil-rich Tarim basin in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. There is an extant Xinjiang-Tibet Highway, and the recently completed Qinghai-Tibet railway will soon be linked to the Xinjiang-Lanzhou rail network.
The implications and opportunities are clear if Nepal wishes to develop a sound energy policy. It is imperative, however, for Nepal to synchronize its northern (mountainous) development agenda with the fast-paced changes taking place in the Western regions of China. There simply is no reason why the already cash-strapped Nepali people should pay such exorbitant rates for cooking gas and petroleum products when they can potentially be availed for substantially less.
The importance of numerous road connections dissecting Nepal on a north-south trajectory across the entire length of the country cannot be over-emphasized. Indeed, the existing road linkage at the Friendship Bridge in Sindhupalchowk district should be replicated at numerous other points in North-East, North-Central and North-West Nepal. This would facilitate more voluminous Nepal-China exchange, and moreover if Nepal is to serve as a transit corridor, the planning and execution of such roads will certainly keep pace with the steadily expanding trade relations between China and India that currently stands at approximately US$19 billion.
Nepal’s orientation has historically been ‘South-orientated’ primarily because of restrictive geographical conditions to the North. However, technological advances are slowly chipping away at adverse natural terrain and thereby creating new and exciting possibilities. For example, the optical fiber project along the 115 km long Arniko highway, is soon expected to connect Kathmandu to Hong Kong via Beijing and serve as an alternative to satellite communications. Nepal will consequently possess capability to link with one of the nodal communication gateways of the world and thereby substantially enhance its global communications. Concentrating on vigorously expanding communication and transportation linkages with China will help Nepal to create new orientations for itself to East Asia, Central Asia, Russia, Eastern Europe and to Europe itself. In a rapidly globalizing world it is highly imperative that Nepali foreign policy be as proactive as possible.
Koirala was recently a visiting scholar at the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS) in Beijing. He can be reached at [email protected]
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