Xi Jinping Nepal Visit Impact On India – Free PDF Download

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?

• President Xi Jinping has wrapped up a landmark visit to Nepal, the first by a Chinese president in 23 years, with 20 deals signed and nearly $500m in financial aid pledged amid Beijing’s growing influence in the Himalayan nation.

NEPAL CHINA

• Xi Jinping also pledged to upgrade the Arniko Highway linking Kathmandu with Tatopani transit point – which was shut down following the devastating earthquake of 2015 – and open more customs points facilitating connectivity.

ARANIKO HIGHWAY

• The road was built in the 1960s with help from the Chinese on an older yak track.
• They also planned to expand the road in 2012, but keeping the route open was made more difficult by landslides from monsoons.
• 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.

ARANIKO HIGHWAY IN KODARI (NEPAL) JUST AFTER BORDER WITH CHIN

LARGER CONNECTIVITY

• China also pushed for Nepal’s greater cooperation in Belt and Road Initiative. A trans-Himalayan corridor is in the offing. This will connect Lhasa — the Tibetan capital — with Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. From Kathmandu, the trans-Himalayan corridor of road and rail network would reach, as per plan, Lumbini – the birthplace of Gautam Budhha – on the India-Nepal border.

RAILWAY

• While the Belt and Road initiative (BRI) has been a prickly matter for India, the Nepal government has been desperately pushing for Kerung-Kathmandu railway corridor and finally has an MOU to show off at the domestic front.
• It could raise security concerns for India as the circuit proposes to connect Kerung to Lumbini via Nepal and could bring China to Indian borders.

THE PLAN

WHAT XI SAID

• “We want to support Nepal in realising its dream to become a land-linked country from the landlocked country,” Xi Jinping said.

INDIA’S WORRY

• If Nepal and China sign a defence agreement in the future it could pose major security threats for India
• In this Xi Jinping 2019 visit
• India watched the visit closely the China-Nepal joint statement had no mention of any defence cooperation much to New Delhi’s relief. (for the time being)

EXTRADITION TREATY

• There was also no mention of extradition treaty that China has been urging Nepal to sign in relation to Tibetan refugees settled in Nepal. However, an agreement on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of mutual legal assistance in criminal matters was signed which brings very little to the table

XI JINPING’S WARNING

• “Anyone attempting to split China in any part of the country will end in crushed bodies and shattered bones,” he told Nepal’s
• Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in a meeting on Sunday, according to China’s state broadcaster CCTV.

BASICS

• “And any external forces backing such attempts dividing China will be deemed by the Chinese people as pipe-dreaming!” he was quoted as saying.

Latest Burning Issues | Free PDF

Sharing is caring!