China–Nepal relations

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
China-Nepalese relations
Map indicating locations of China and Nepal

China
Nepal

The bilateral relation between

Himalayan country after the accession of the Kingdom of Sikkim into India in 1975.[1][2]

In recent years, China has been making an effort to gain entry into

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), and, Nepal has continuously backed and supported the proposal to include China as a member in the regional grouping. Since 1975, Sino-Nepalese relations have been close and grown significantly, though India remains the largest source of total Foreign direct investment (FDI) (China has been the largest source of FDI to Nepal from 2015 onwards),[3] and the third largest source of remittance to Nepal after Qatar and UAE.[4][5][6] Based on the amount of remittance to Nepal sent by Nepalese migrants working in India (amounting to nearly $1.021 billion per year),[4] the government of Nepal estimate that there are around 1 million Nepalese migrant workers in India as of 2021, while the number of Nepalis in China is minuscule (3,500 in Mainland and 15,950 in Hong Kong)[7]
as of 2017.

Nepal, Tibet and China

See also: China–India relations § Tang and Harsha dynasties
Gurung people and the Thakali people of Nepal sharing close linguistic, cultural, marital, and, ethnic ties with the Tibetan people of Tibet
.

Around 600–650 CE, Nepalese Princess

Avalokiteshvara
), Thungji Chen-po rang-jung nga-ldan.

During the Tang dynasty, the Chinese envoy Wang Xuance led an army of Nepalese and Tibetans to defeat an usurper in the Indian Kingdom of Magadha. In 1260 CE during the Yuan dynasty, Nepali craftsmen Araniko, on the decree of Chinese/Mongolian Emperor Kublai Khan, traveled to Shangdu and built the White Stupa of Miaoying Temple in Beijing, which was the largest structure in Beijing at that time.[11] Taking almost ten years (1279–1288 CE) to complete, the Stupa better known as White Dagoba, is still standing today and is considered to be one of the oldest Buddhist Stupa in China.

Saka Era
1685 (AD 1763)
kong par tangka dated 13–45 (= AD 1791),obverse
King Mahendra
in 1965.

In 1789, the Tibetan government stopped the usage of Nepalese coins for trade in Tibet, citing purity concerns over the copper and the silver coins minted by the Nepalese government,

Qing army in Tibet.[14]

The 'Treaty of Betrawati' signed by Nepal and Tibet on October 2, 1792, stipulated that both Nepal and Tibet recognize the suzerainty of the

Qing court also issued an edict which among other dispositions stipulated the introduction of a new silver coinage in Tibet, struck in the name of the Qianlong Emperor, the then ruler of China,[18] while at the same time, Nepalese coins were completely forbidden in Tibet from then onward.[19]

During the late 19th century (1899–1901), after the destabilization of Qing Imperial Court due to Boxer Rebellion, the British Raj as the unchallenged and the dominant power in the sub-continent exerted total control over China's frontier regions including Nepal. Left with no support from the weakened Qing Court, in the immediate aftermath of Qing Empire's defeat at the hands of 8-nation alliance, Nepal aligned itself with the British Raj in India and supported the British expedition to Tibet.[1] When China sought to claim Tibet in 1910, Nepal sided with Tibet and Britain and broke relations with China after Tibet drove Chinese forces out in 1911.[1]

The people-to-people ties between Nepali and Tibetan groups has been affected since 1950, after the

Lo Manthang
, however, still remains quasi-restricted to foreigners.

Diplomatic relations and Nepalese neutrality

Painted eyes and writing in Nepalese script below on the Kumbum Stupa in Gyantse.

Nepal's Diplomatic relations with China has a long history. One of the famous and most talked about result of such diplomacy is the introduction of pagoda architecture to China by Nepal. In 1260 CE during the Yuan dynasty, Nepali craftsmen Araniko, on the decree of Emperor Kublai Khan, traveled to Shangdu and built the a stupa better known as White Dagoba in Beijing, which was the largest structure in Beijing at that time.[21] This Stupa built on pagoda architecture was a milestone for the introduction of the architecture.[22] The other result is the introduction of Spinach to China. It is said that Spinach was introduced to China via Nepal.[23] Spinach seeds were first gifted by Narendra Dev, a king of Licchavi Dynasty of Nepal to Emperor Taizong of Tang.[24][25]

Nepal was historically influenced by India, including the period 1842 to 1945, when its international relations were under Indo-British control.

1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship that had established a close Indo-Nepalese relationship on commerce, and foreign relations, was increasingly resented in Nepal, which began seeing it as an encroachment of its sovereignty and an unwelcome extension of Indian influence; the deployment of an Indian military mission in Nepal in the 1950s and unabated migration of millions of bihari Indians into Nepal's Terai region increased these concerns.[28]

In 1955, Nepal restored diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China and exchanged resident ambassadors by 1960. In 1956, both nations signed a new treaty terminating the Treaty of Thapathali of 1856 and Nepal recognized Tibet as a part of China.[1] In 1960, Nepal and China signed a boundary settlement agreement and a separate 'Sino-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship'.[30] Nepal also began supporting the change of China's seat in the United Nations.[1] In 1961, Nepal and China agreed to build an all-weather road connecting the Nepalese capital Kathmandu with Tibet.

In December 1960, Nepali King Mahendra executed a coup and dismissed the parliamentary government of Nepal.[26] India supported the deposed parliamentary government, and blockaded Nepal in fall 1962.[26] Soon afterwards, the Sino-Indian war broke out, and Indian losses to China made it unwilling to risk further confrontation with Nepal; India lifted the blockade.[26]

From the early 1960s until 1973, the United States Central Intelligence Agency trained and financed Tibetan guerillas operating in opposition to China from two districts in Nepal.[31] The United States ended its support for these guerillas following the 1972 visit by Richard Nixon to China, and Nepal under King Birendra suppressed the guerillas.[31]

Economic relations

In the late 1970s after the accession of

Nepalese civil war (1996–2006), China responded by dispatching arms to Nepal, in spite of the ideological affinity of the Maoists with China.[32][33] After the peace process and national elections in Nepal in 2008, the new Maoist-led government announced its intentions to scrap Nepal's 1950 treaty with India, indicating a stronger move towards closer ties with China.[32][34][35]

Nepal strongly supported China's successful 2007 application as an observer to SAARC.[36]: 192 

Nepal has been a major beneficiary of China's increased focus on developing

southwest China, and Nepal-China trade increased by a factor of five from 2009 to 2012.[37] Nepal has been a beneficiary of increased Chinese foreign aid to south Asia since the mid-2000s, including Chinese financing for a railway from Kathmandu to Lhasa.[36]: 198  In 2021, the China International Development Cooperation Agency pledged to finance development projects in fifteen northern district of Nepal through the "Northern Region Border Development Programme".[38]

China's Belt and Road Initiative has strengthened relations with Nepal.[39]: 215  The China-Nepal-India Economic Corridor (CNIEC) was proposed by China in April 2018.[40] It is an extension of the agreed upon China-Nepal Trans-Himalayan Multi-dimensional Connectivity Network into India. While China and Nepal have shown favourable reactions towards CNIEC, India is "indifferent".[41] This indifference is postulated to stem from CNIEC being a part of the BRI, China's growing influence over Nepal, and an end to "India's monopoly over Nepal's transit points and Nepal's attempt to end its dependency on India".[41]

Transportation

See also:
Qinghai–Tibet Railway § Connection to Nepal

The Araniko Highway was built in the 1960s with help from the Chinese on an older yak track.[42] They also planned to expand the road in 2012, but keeping the route open was made more difficult by landslides from monsoons.[42] The road became a conduit for a large amount of trade between China and Nepal, and also for some trade between India and China when it is open.[42]

In 2007–08, China began construction of a 770-kilometre

railway connecting the Tibetan capital of Lhasa with the Nepalese border town of Khasa, connecting Nepal to China's wider national railway network.[43] In a meeting between Chinese and Nepalese officials on 25 April 2008, the Chinese delegation announced the intention to extend the Qingzang railway to Zhangmu
(Nepali: Khasa) on the Nepalese border. Nepal had requested that the railway be extended to enable trade and tourism between the two nations. On the occasion of the Nepali premier's visit to China it was reported that construction will be completed by 2020. The section Lhasa-Shigatse opened in August 2014.

An air route exists between Lhasa and Kathmandu.[37]

In June 2018, China and Nepal announced an agreement to connect

Xigazê, Tibet Autonomous Region with Kathmandu, via a new railroad.[44]

In September 2018, Nepalese

Xigatse.[45] Access to Chinese ports reduces Nepal's dependence on India for commerce, a dependence that was highlighted by the 2015 Nepal blockade.[45][46]

Territorial disputes

Mao Zedong wrote in the original version of The Chinese Revolution and the Communist Party that "the correct boundaries of China would include Burma, Bhutan, Nepal."[47][48][49] He also postulated in his Five Fingers of Tibet policy that Tibet, which he claimed was an integral part of China, was like his right palm and Ladakh, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and South Tibet (originally NEFA, later renamed as Arunachal Pradesh) the five fingers attached to that palm.[50]

In November 2019 after Nepal's parliament formally approved a map depicting Kalapani within Nepal, per Indian media sources Nepal's Survey Department reported of Chinese encroachment on 36 hectares in four districts of Nepal (

Sindhupalchowk and Humla) and that there was a further risk of losing several hundred hectares of land.[51][52]

Indian media sources also reported that Nepal Agriculture department's documented massive road development projects in the Tibet Autonomous Region that have caused Sumjung, Kam Khola and
Arun rivers to change their course and expand China's boundary into northern territories of Nepal, and warned that even more Nepalese land would be encroached by the Chinese if the rivers continue to change course. Nepalese government later on officially released a statement stating, "Why would the Agriculture department release report related to the boundaries of Nepal?" Indian media sources also said that China could set up Border Observation Post of Armed Police in these encroached territories.[53][54]

In May 2020, Chinese media, calling Mount Everest (known in Nepal as Sagarmatha)[55] as Mount Qomolangma claimed it as part of Chinese territory, sparking outrage among Nepalese citizens. In 1961, King Mahendra, the then ruler of Nepal, had announced that Mount Everest falls squarely inside Nepal.[56] Opposition leaders have criticized Prime Minister Oli for not raising up the Sino-Nepal border issue.[57]

In September 2020, Nepalese media reported that a border pillar in Humla District of Nepal was missing, and China had constructed 11 buildings 2 kilometers inside Nepalese territory. This was supported by Deputy CDO of Humla and Provincial MLA Jeevan Bahadur Shahi, who collected proofs by making days-long visits and letting them go public.[58] He got warning and threat from Chinese side in return.[59] When the Chief District Officer of Nepal went to inspect the place based on concerns raised by locals, he was told by Chinese security officials that the buildings were within Chinese territory which extends one kilometre further south from where the buildings are located.[60][61] In the same month, Nepalese foreign ministry confirmed that buildings are constructed one kilometre inside of Chinese border.[62]

In November 2020, the government of Nepal refuted the accusation from Jeevan Bahadur Shahi. Sewa Lamsal of Nepal's foreign ministry said land encroachment by Chinese construction was untrue. Both the Chinese and Nepalese governments denied there were any territorial disputes between the two countries.[62]

Human rights

In June 2020, Nepal was one of 53 countries that backed the Hong Kong national security law at the United Nations.[63] In October 2022, Nepal voted against UN Human Rights Council debate on human rights violations in China's Xinjiang region.[64][65] Nepal's take on this was that the issues related to Xinjiang were not related to human rights but rather about counterterrorism and a move against separatism.[66][67]

Treaties

Nepal and China have signed a transit trade treaty and nine other pacts as of 22 of March 2016.

Points in Nepal-China Treaty 2016:

  1. Nepal to use China's sea port facilities.
  2. Transit transport agreement to be reviewed every 10 years.
  3. China to build a regional international airport in Pokhara.
  4. China, Nepal exploring the possibilities of signing a bilateral free trade agreement.
  5. China to explore the possibility of finding oil and gas reserves in Nepal.
  6. China to provide economic and technical support to Nepal to implement the project on Pokhara International airport.
  7. China to distribute solar panels in Nepal's rural areas by tapping its Climate Fund.
  8. China to build, manage and maintain Xiarwa Boundary River Bridge at Hilsa, Humla.
  9. Nepal, China to strengthen intellectual property system in both the countries.
  10. Nepal, China to extend cooperation and exchange information on banking regulations.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Sino-Nepalese relations". Archived from the original on 2004-10-31.
  2. ^ a b "Nepal's China-Card – Scoop News". Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  3. ^ "A Survey Report on Foreign Direct Investment in Nepal" (PDF). Nepal Rastra Bank. June 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  4. ^ a b Kafle, Laxman (28 January 2020). "Over 50 Per Cent Of Remittance To Nepal Comes From Gulf Countries". Rising Nepal Daily.
  5. ^ "Remittances keep Nepal's shaky economy afloat".
  6. ^ "Malaysia top remittance sending country to Nepal".
  7. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2017-04-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ^ Tenzin, Ahcarya Kirti Tulku Lobsang. "Early Relations between Tibbet and Nepal (7th to 8th Centuries)." Translated by K. Dhondup. The Tibet Journal, Vol. VII, Nos. 1 &2. Spring/Summer 1982, p. 84.
  9. ^ Josayma, C.B. Gsaya Belsa: An Introduction, The Tibet Journal, Vol. XVIII, No. 1. Spring 1993, p. 27.
  10. ISBN 978-962-7341-55-0
    .
  11. ^ Kesar Lall. A Nepalese Miscellany, p.32
  12. ^ a b Historical money of Tibet[circular reference]
  13. ISBN 9780415336475
    .
  14. ^
    ISBN 9781136335495
    .
  15. ^ Sino-Nepalese War[circular reference]
  16. ^ Hodgson to Gov of India, 26 May 1838, Foreign Dept Sec, 13 June 1838, No 10, NAI
  17. ^ Treaty of Thapathali[circular reference]
  18. ^ Rhodes, Nicholas G. (Winter 1990) The first Coins struck in Tibet, Tibet Journal, Vol. 15, No. 4, Dharamsala, pp. 115–134.
  19. ^ Bertsch, Wolfgang (Spring 2008) The Kong-par Tangka of Tibet, Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society, No. 195, Croydon & Ringwood, pp. 35–46.
  20. ^ Raffaele, Paul (April 1998). "Into the Forbidden Kingdom of Mustang". Reader's Digest. 421. 71.
  21. ^ Times, Nepali (2018-05-15). "The life and times of Arniko". nepalitimes.com. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  22. ^ "China's cultural debt to a Nepalese artist in the court of Kublai Khan". South China Morning Post. 2017-12-04. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  23. ^ "Spinach History – Different Types of Spinach". www.vegetablefacts.net. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  24. ISBN 978-1784532017
    .
  25. ^ "When Nepal gifted spinach to China". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  26. ^
    ISSN 0012-9976
    .
  27. ^ a b "India – Nepal". Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  28. ^ a b "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – Editorial". Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  29. ISBN 0-7146-4829-9
  30. ^ "Sino-Nepal Treaties, 1960". Archived from the original on 2017-11-23. Retrieved 2017-07-16.
  31. ^
    ISSN 0012-9976
    .
  32. ^ a b Tharoor, Ishaan (15 April 2008). "When the Maoists Take Over Nepal". Archived from the original on April 18, 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2017 – via www.time.com.
  33. ^ "BBC NEWS – South Asia – Chinese 'deliver arms to Nepal'". 25 November 2005. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  34. ^ "India willing to review 1950 treaty". Archived from the original on 17 February 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  35. ^ "Maoists to scrap 1950 Indo-Nepal treaty". Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  36. ^
    OCLC 939553543
    .
  37. ^
    OCLC 939553543
    .
  38. ^ Giri, Anil (January 5, 2021). "China's foreign aid agency is all set to make foray into Nepal's northern region". The Kathmandu Post.
  39. ISBN 978-1-03-239508-1
    .
  40. ^ PTI (18 April 2018). "India China Nepal economic corridor: China moots India-Nepal-China economic corridor through Himalayas". The Times of India. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  41. ^
    S2CID 233464054
    .
  42. ^
    TheGuardian.com
    . 23 April 2013.
  43. ^ Online, Asia Time. "Asia Times Online :: South Asia news, business and economy from India and Pakistan". Archived from the original on 4 July 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  44. Zee Media Corporation Limited
    . The new railway line will connect the Gyirong trading port in the city of Xigaze in Tibet with the Nepali capital Kathmandu, Vice-Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou was quoted as saying by the China Daily, after the two meetings.
  45. ^ a b "Nepal says China to allow access to ports, ending Indian monopoly on transit". FMT Media Sdn Bhd. Reuters. September 7, 2018.
  46. ^ Gill, Peter (October 12, 2019). "High Expectations as China's Xi Lands in Nepal". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on October 22, 2019. The last blockade, which followed the launch of BRI and Xi's projection of greater Chinese power abroad, resulted in Nepal seeking to bolster connectivity with China
  47. ^ "Economic and political relations between Bhutan and the neighbouring countries pp-168" (PDF). Institute of developing economies Japan external trade organisation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  48. ^ Kumar, Mayank (2021-09-18). "To corner India, China's 'expansionist virus' active in Nepal". The Sunday Guardian Live. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  49. ^ "Bhutan-China Border Dispute: Regional Security Concerns – CENJOWS". Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  50. News18
    . Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  51. ^ Sridharan, Vesudevan (12 November 2019). "Nepal protesters burn Xi Jinping effigies over China's alleged border encroachment". South China Morning Post.
  52. ^ "Chinese President's Xi's effigy burned in Sarlah". Nepal Monitor.
  53. ^ "China Encroaching Nepal Land; Could Set Up 'Border Posts' In Seized Territories". Eurasian Times. 15 June 2020.
  54. ^ "China occupies 33 hectares of Nepal's land!". Daily Bangladesh. 25 June 2020.
  55. ^ Mulmi, Amish Raj (14 May 2020). "The art of being heard". Kathmandu Post.
  56. ^ "Chinese Media Post On Mount Everest Sparks Twitter Fight With Nepal". NDTV. 10 May 2020.
  57. ^ Phuyal, Surendra. "Nepal also has boundary issues with China". Retrieved 2020-06-26.
  58. ^ Republica. "NC leader Shahi asks China to produce evidence to prove it has not encroached upon Nepali territory". My Republica. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
  59. ^ "China responsible if anything happens to me: Nepal politician who accused Beijing of encroaching territory". www.timesnownews.com. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
  60. ^ Giri, Anil (23 September 2020). "A missing border pillar in Humla creates row between Nepal and China". The Kathmandu Post.
  61. ^ "China-Nepal border row: Nepal yet to offer official stand on missing border pillar". The Himalayan Times. 23 September 2020.
  62. ^ a b Sharma, Gopal; Crossley, Gabriel (3 November 2020). "China, Nepal deny Nepali opposition's landgrab accusations". Reuters.
  63. ^ Lawler, Dave (2 July 2020). "The 53 countries supporting China's crackdown on Hong Kong". Axios. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  64. ISSN 0013-0389
    . Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  65. ^ "Nepal votes against the western resolution on human rights violations in China". The Annapurna Express (in Nepali). Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  66. ^ "'Nepal supports China's legitimate position on Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and other internal affairs'". People's Review. 2022-08-13. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  67. ^ "Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks on the Human Rights Council's Vote Against a Draft Decision on Xinjiang". np.china-embassy.gov.cn. Retrieved 2023-07-15.

Further reading

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=China–Nepal_relations&oldid=1219192799"