China Eyeing Nepal with Hegemonic Mentality
China has proved itself to be a hegemonic force that has not only captured Tibet and Xinjiang forcibly but keeps small countries frightened by creating border disputes.
All the while it has been threatening Taiwan and claiming this independent country as a province of China. Vietnam, Nepal, Bhutan and many of the Central Asian Republics have been at the receving end of Chinese hegemonistic attitude.Even with much bigger countries like Russia and India this Chinese problem exists.
However such domineering behaviors are bound to encounter a dead end as finally happened at Galwan with India. Now Chinese have no alternative left but to vacate not only occupied Ladhak but also Occupied Tibet.
Now most of the countries neighbouring China have to begun to reassess their cooperation with China and as they have more realistic considerations on their interests, Chinese moves in the region are being tested.
On the other hand, India has started strengthening its relationship with the SAARC neighbours. General Naravane’s visit to Nepal was a vivid example that the Indian government will continue prior policies of helping the neighboring countries whenever required.Similar has been the Visit of NSA to Sri Lanka and Maldives.
Maldives has managed to escape Chinese deep influenceand incursion into its internal affairs and economics.Now even Sri Lanka is trying to get out of the tight lending clutches of China.
Then Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa Has described India as his relative and China as a friend, implying that Sri Lanka was closer to India than to China.
So now China is trying to woo Nepal at all cost. Former Nepalese prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had made his first official visit to China in 2008 after assuming office, breaking a tradition of new Nepali leaders making New Delhi their first foreign port of call.
Now the Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe has paid a one-day working visit to the country on Sunday. As per the Chinese Military cooperation is supposed to be a normal part of China-Nepal bilateral interactions.
This is certainly highly objectionable as far as India is concerned especially when border tensions between China and India have not yet been defused.
Developing military cooperation between China and Nepal will certainly be opposed by India. chinese after capturing Tibet have already started eyeing parts of Nepal. This will be opposed by India with all its might.
Due to its unique geographic position, Nepal can give refuge to Tibetans freedom fighters in exile. Therefore China is trying to strengthen its military and police cooperation with Nepal as this will help secure China’s grip on Occupied Tibet.
On the other hand Nepal has relied heavily on India for military matters and its southern part is home to a large population which has traditional family and marriage relationship with Indians across the Indo Nepal border.
Quite a large number of Nepalese Gurkhas serve with the Indian Army and there is a large population of pensioners too. A large number of Nepal Army Officers and men receive their training in India. This close bond thus cannot be disrupted by any Chinese interference and colusion with some politicians with vested interests in Nepal.
China and Nepal signed an agreement regarding 150 million yuan ($22.8 million) military aid to the Nepal Army during Nepalese Defense Minister Ishwor Pokharel’s China visit in October last year, according to media reports. Media reports also note that, “a protocol for the same [deal as October 2019] is expected to be signed during Wei’s visit.”
Indian media has highlighted The fact that above visit By Wei’s has come closely on the heels of the trip made by India’s Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, and also by General Naravane.
All of South Asia and South East Asia is within India ‘s sphere of influence, and so India has to be highly vigilant against any Chinese undue interference.
Indian maintains close personal ties with political figures in its neighboring countries. India and other South Asian countries have formed inextricable relations in politics, economics, culture and religion.
