China’s strategic foray in the post- monarchy Nepal: implications for India

Abstract

Nepal had been surrounded by two major powers- India and China. India and Nepal had been sharing very historical and civilizational relations. With the signing of Indo-Nepal Peace and Friendship Treaty 1950, the first step in solidifying the multifaceted bilateral relations was taken. But soon, some anti-Indianness started growing and was further strengthened on account of South Asian geopolitics. India’s South Asia in general and diplomatic manoeuvres towards Nepal in particular drifted Nepal away from its geostrategic and geopolitical calculus,which led to vacuum in Indo-Nepal relations. Meanwhile, China and India both have been competing for expanding their influence in South Asian countries. In order to find its geostrategic space, China has re-oriented its policy vis-à-vis Nepal in particular and for South Asia in general. Consequently, China hasremained successful making it a strong partnerunlike India. It has convinced Nepal to support, China’s One Policy. In order to achieve it vested interests in Nepal, China has been making strong strategic foray. In this changing scenario, how China has been expanding its geostrategic foray in Nepal and how it would impact on Indian interests, remain the main focus of this paper.