Nepal established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China in 1965 and has since been exchanging residential ambassadors. In 1950, Nepal, of course, signed the famous Indo-Nepal treaty of Peace and Friendship. The treaty was signed on unequal terms and it invited unwelcome Indian encroachment upon Nepali sovereignty. Often it seems India wants to dictate internal affairs of Nepal.India has genuine security interests in Nepal as they share an open border. India fears proxy threats from rival Pakistan and China via Nepal. Similarly, Nepal's water resources are another Indian interest, which it wants to translate into energy and irrigation projects. Along with these interests, India has virtual monopoly in trade in Nepal, something guaranteed by Nepal's 'India-landlocked' status.
Due to its hegemonic mentality, India wants to intervene in domestic affairs and expects a key role in Nepal. However, Nepali leaders this time dared to promulgate the new constitution despite Indian pressure not to do so. The other irritant for New Delhi was the election as prime minister of nationalistic KP Sharma Oli, and hence the blockade. Nepal is preparing to deepen its trade relations but India is confident China would not want to rile India over small fries like Nepal.
It was also due to the weakness of our own leaders who tend to be strongly anti-India when in opposition but turn overnight into ardent nationalists. It is this kind of subservience that invites India to fish in the muddy waters of Nepal. This time India decided to impose a border blockade, on a country which does over 75 percent of its trade with India. This happened because we have shown that we cannot deal with our own problems.
The recent blockade has forced Nepal to find alternatives to India. China, in particular, should be taken as the closet friend and a pragmatic partner in Nepal's economic development. As an emerging superpower, China's foreign policy aims to "preserving China's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity," "creating a favorable international environment for China's reform," "maintaining world peace" and "propelling common development." Similarly, Nepal maintains a non-aligned policy and enjoys friendly relations with its neighboring countries.
Therefore, as a small, landlocked country wedged between two large rising powers, Nepal has been maintaining good diplomatic relations with both China and India. The relation with China is always in balance whereas the relation with India fluctuates wildly. This is because India wants to be a determinant in Nepal's domestic and foreign affairs. It has difficulty seeing Nepal as completely sovereign. On the other hand China only expects Nepal adhere to One-China policy and not to let Nepali territory be used against China.
What Nepal expects from China is respect and support for its prosperity. Nepal is now expected to open all-weather roads with China. Setting up Sino-Nepal railways and fuel supply pipelines are best solutions for greater economic engagement between the two countries. Though China is positive, Nepal has not been able to take the initiative from its side. Therefore, the 60th anniversary of China-Nepal ties should concentrate on more cultural and academic exchanges; development of insurance companies, banks and customs offices at the borders; transit facilities; quarantine checkpoint; and collective effort to ban human trafficking and drug smuggling.
Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, there have been efforts of establishment of Asian infrastructure bank, creation of economic sub-regions in various countries, and building road links with countries in South Asia. China already has an observer status in SAARC; but this is not enough. It should play a greater role in SAARC for the benefit of SAARC member states.
Even though most countries in South Asia were colonized, they have long since settled their internal problems and are well on their way to achieving lasting peace and prosperity. But Nepal, which has always been free and sovereign, has fallen by the wayside due to its ever-present political instability. In the days ahead it faces more challenges as a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country.
Nepal's northern neighbor China is projected to be the most prosperous nation and the southern neighbor is expected to become the third most prosperous nation by 2050. However, Nepal between them is struggling. Nepal's domestic and foreign policy should be such that it can compete with two neighbors in the new global economy.
Nepal has adequate water resources, a huge reservoir for clean energy, medicinal herbs, scenic tourist destinations and historical monuments that are enough to create a separate niche in South Asia. The other things going for Nepal is that it is the land of Buddha and Mt Everest.
Nepal expects pragmatic relations with its neighbors, especially with China for mutual peace and prosperity. The planned visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Nepal, sometime in 2016, will, Nepalis hope, give new impetus to closer Nepal-China relations in the days ahead.
The author, a PhD scholar, writers on Nepal's foreign policy
deependrasanchar@yahoo.com
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