Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is headed to China for his first foreign visit since taking office earlier this year. This breaks from an earlier practice where India would be the first port of call for the new premier in Nepal. While Oli is not the first to deviate from this tradition, it does highlight Nepal’s desire to balance between India and China. India Today Global sat down with Amish Raj Mulmi, author of All Roads Lead North: Nepal’s Turn To China, to understand this development.
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Mulmi explains the rise of China’s presence in South Asian countries like Nepal. He argues that part of Nepal’s turn to China can be explained by India’s mismanagement of relations with Kathmandu. In particular, tensions between India and Nepal after the 2015 Nepal earthquakes and the Constitutional protests in the same year created an opening for China. Mulmi explains that India subsequently blockaded Nepal – which created a shortage of key essential products and anger against New Delhi. China has successfully played on this disenchantment to expand its relationship with Nepal.
China is now eyeing investments in Nepal through the Belt and Road Initiative – which India has refused to endorse. Mulmi also explains the roots of anti-Indianism in a number of its neighbours and suggests a pathway for India to compete with China in the region. In particular, Mulmi argues India should take its neighbours along more on the path of development. He also asked India to understand that small states like Nepal have more diplomatic options which they will develop in pursuit of their national interest.