Nepal-China Border Dispute

SIMIKOT: SEPT. 3 – The issue has come up again after the government formed a committee to study the ‘dispute’ that erupted last year over the Nepal-China border in the Humla district of western Nepal.

Last year, there was a controversy that the Chinese side had crossed the border and built some structures in the Nepali area in the Humla district.

But then-Foreign Minister Pradip Kumar Gyawali, referring to a study in 2073, said “those structures were built on Chinese soil.”

Similarly, the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu had clarified that the structures were constructed in its own territory and there was no border dispute between Nepal and China.

However, the then ruling and then-main opposition party, the Nepali Congress, issued a statement accusing the government of trying to cover up despite evidence that the border had been crossed.

Now that the Congress-led government has formed a committee to study the area, discussions are underway from various angles.

What about the committee?

A government spokesman said a cabinet meeting on Wednesday formed a committee to study “problems seen” in the Nepal-China border area in Humla district.

Announcing the decision of the meeting, Spokesperson and Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Gyanendra Bahadur Karki informed the media about it.

He told the media that a committee comprising the Department of Survey, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and Border Experts would be formed under the coordination of the Home Ministry’s joint secretary to study the problems in the border area from Limi-Lapcha to Hilsa in Namkha village of Humla district.

He did not disclose the names of the coordinators and members of the committee.

According to officials, the name of the committee has not been decided yet.

The government has not said whether the foreign ministry will be represented in the committee set up to study the border issue between the two countries.

Will there be a negative impact on Nepal-China relations?

Following the government’s move, some border experts have expressed concern that it could have a negative impact on Nepal-China relations.

Former Director-General of the Department of Survey and Nepali border expert Budhinarayan Shrestha, who participated in several previous border meetings between Nepal and China, also expressed similar concerns.

He told the BBC: “The border dispute in that area has already been resolved. There has been no demarcation since the demarcation in 1960.”

“Somehow it seems to affect the relationship between Nepal and China. The border is very sensitive, so decisions should not be made without understanding the border.”

According to him, a border agreement was signed between Nepal and China on March 25, 2016.

On the basis of the same agreement, a border treaty was signed between Nepal and China on September 6, 2018 BS.

Shrestha said that the border protocol was jointly signed between the two countries on January 22, 2019, due to the physical demarcation of land as per the treaty.

He said that even though the border protocol was signed several times after that, it has not been signed for three decades.

Due to that, border disputes have arisen in some places but there is a mechanism between Nepal and China to address them, he said.

But Shrestha is of the opinion that if the government forms a committee unilaterally now, it could affect diplomatic relations.

He said, “As the border is a sensitive issue, officials from Nepal and China should sit together and prepare a report. In my opinion, the committee formed by the Nepali government should also include local body officials from China.”

“….. Boundary verification is not done by one country only. Boundary pillars are jointly owned. Commonly owned property and pillars have to be inspected in a joint manner! Both countries together.”

He still thinks that the Chinese side can send a team if requested by the Nepali government.

Shrestha says, “Our Nepalese government will also send a permanent representative if it requests the Chinese government. Because the Chinese embassy has said that it can be verified.”

“It’s a diplomatic thing. The committee was formed without diplomatic correspondence. What is it for? I think so.”

What happened last year?

Last year, there was a controversy in the border area saying that China had built buildings in Nepali territory.

Initially, the locals and later the local administration informed about it.

However, at the time, the Foreign Ministry and the Chinese embassy had made it clear that the buildings were built in Chinese territory.

However, the then Leader of the Opposition Nepali Congress, Jeevan Bahadur Shahi, visited the area and submitted a report to the party.

Citing that, Congress had issued a statement opposing the government.

He accused the then government of remaining silent and trying to cover up the incident.

What do the local people’s representatives say?

Speaking to the BBC, the chairman of Namkha village in the area, which was claimed to have crossed the border, said the issue had become clear last year.

CPN-Maoist Centrally Elected Village Chairman Bishnu Bahadur Tamang said, “It is not appropriate to form a committee by creating the fact that there is a dispute in a place where there is no dispute. You have to! ”

He said that it was not appropriate to form another committee as the government of Nepal had made the idea public last year.

“The government belongs to Nepal and not to the party, so the change of government on the border issue did not change the perception of the people living here on the border!”

He said the issue arose last year when locals said the Chinese had built a building on a traditional pasture.

But later, after looking at the maps and evidence, it was found that the border was very close, even though it was traditionally a steppe area.

He said that there are still around 150 people from Humla going to Tibet to live, work and do business.

He said that Nepalis coming to Tibet could also face problems if the federal government takes steps without thinking.

What does a government spokesman say?

Some have accused the government of pursuing a policy of irritating China and appeasing India.

He said that the government has not been able to raise the issue of Jaisingh Dhami who went missing after falling from Tuin in Mahakali.

But government spokesman Gyanendra Bahadur Karki has denied such allegations.

He told the BBC: “We want to establish good relations with the two allies and we want to resolve the issues we see – on the basis of understanding – through diplomatic initiatives.

On the Chinese side, the Foreign Ministry had already said that there was no border dispute. He said, “The Council of Ministers has already made a decision.

Many, including the Leader of the Opposition, have questioned the government’s reluctance to comment on incidents involving India.

Leaders of the ruling party have also pointed fingers at the government.

“We want to have good relations with both countries. We are pursuing a non-aligned foreign policy,” Karki said.

Even though the investigation committee formed by the government in the Jaisingh Dhami case submitted its report on Tuesday, there is still uncertainty about its implementation.

Asked about that, spokesperson Karki said, “The report has come, now let’s look at that report and after a good study of the report, the government will take a proper decision.”