NP Upadhyaya

Despite the exchanges’ of verbal “sweet and delicious” congratulatory messages  by Nepal and China while marking the sixty years of the establishment of Nepal-China bilateral relations, both the countries, however, are feeling somewhat uneasy on how to trust and take each other in the days ahead.

The damage has already been done.

And who damaged it? It is crystal clear for intelligent brains here and there-read Beijing.

What and how China feels about the “diplomatic blunder” she has committed knowingly over the “Lipulekh pass” –a Nepali territory by all means, is beyond the comprehension of the Nepali analysts, however, Nepal has now ample and abundant diplomatic reasons to suspect the “grand” Chinese ill intents that has come to the fore when China, taken still as Nepal’s most trusted and reliable partner since the days of Chairman Mao, Deng Xiao Ping and Premier Chou En Lai, signed recently an agreement with India which clearly mentions that the two countries have agreed to enhance and expand their bilateral trade through the Nepali territory-Lipulekh-henceforth.

Nepal has not been consulted unfortunately which speaks volumes of Chinese ulterior motives.  

Former Nepal Prime Minister Kirti Nidhi Bista takes this sad event as an “unfortunate” one and further opines that “China has betrayed Nepal by not even consulting her while inking the said trade agreement with India in Beijing. (Republica daily).

A fatherly figure of Nepal-China ties. Should China be told this fact which is well recorded in hisstory?

China, Nepal’s northern neighbor which, since the establishment of the diplomatic ties, has bagged the distinction of being considered as “an all weather friend of Nepal”.

Damp squib. Nepal was taken for a ride by China for several decades.

However, analysts claim this established Nepali euphoria has all of a sudden vanished in Beijing and Kathmandu’s political ethereal medium to the extent that some fans of China in Nepal now openly claim that “China has done more harm to Nepal as compared to the “unconditional “benevolence” that Nepal has been exhibiting towards this all weather friend since several decades. Nepal was serious enough ever for safeguarding China’s interests in Nepal, if Beijing recalls.

In effect, Nepal took China as a political deterrent for some obvious reasons.

An annoyed Madan Regmi, the Chair of the China Study center says that looking at the manner the Dragon has more or less humiliated Nepal by not consulting Nepal, the owner of Lipulekh pass, while forging an agreement for trade purposes with India. ( Kantipur Daily).

Mr. Regmi is taken as “one of the best friend of the Dragon in Nepal” and has been serving the cause of Nepal-China relations since several decades. Mr. Regmi stands for better ties with China. He is still committed.

If China doesn’t correct its diplomatic blunder then she is sure to tarnish its image cultivated to meticulously by her own leaders like Chairman Mao, Dend Xiao Ping and Premier Chou En Lai and reciprocated by King Mahemdra, Birendra, TP Acharya, late BP Koirala and et al. .

In Nepal, China may invite new champions of Free Tibet Movement. This is for sure wherein the covert support of “China friendly media” so far, but ignored by mini Beijing, could join hands of those who are engaged in Anti-China activities to which they had not so far, for having special love and honor for all weather friend.

China should understand that Nepal after all is the mother land of the Nepali people eventually. Analysts presume China understands better what nationalism means?

The “one China policy” has become the most compelling and the “needed” rhetoric for the Nepali leaders while making speeches on the topic of Nepal-China relations.

Fear factor perhaps.

However, for China, Lipulekh pass, appeared more important for trading with India than reciprocating Nepali sagacity and unconditional benevolence, on top of it all the beginning of the China’s UN membership supported by Nepal.

The dragon has become aggressive towards Nepal is visibly clear.

This is the conclusion of Nepali intellectuals. And why not? The Think tank in Beijing must listen to Nepali pains and come to a positive conclusion that pleases Nepal or else she will lose the long standing friendship.  Take it for granted.

Nevertheless, we at this paper extend our heartfelt congratulations to both Nepal and China in having so pleasantly traversed the long journey of sixty years of diplomatic ties.

Long live Nepal-China bilateral ties.