(TibetanReview.net, Nov09, 2016) – China has raised a series of objections over what it considered Nepal’s failure to adhere to Beijing’s one-China policy in recent days, according to a myrepublica.com report Nov 8. One was over an alleged meeting of the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) party President Mr Sher Bahadur Deuba with the head of the exile Tibetan Administration at Dharamshala, India, Dr Lobsang Sangay, during a function organized by an Indian think-tank in Goa, India.
This referred to the 3rd India Ideas Conclave which was held over Nov 4–6 and organised by New Delhi-based India Foundation on the theme of ‘India at 70 – Democracy, Development & Dissent’. Described as India’s largest conclave of public intellectuals and policymakers, the conference heard keynote speeches from the Dalai Lama via a video message; Swami Tejomayananda, Global Head of the Chinmaya Mission, Mumbai; Sher Bahadur Deuba, former Prime Minister of Nepal; Mr Suresh Prabhu, Indian Railways Minister; and Mr Amit Shah, President of the BJP.
Others who spoke included Mr Arnab Goswami (the then Editor-in-Chief, Times Now television channel, Mumbai), Ms Taslima Nasreen, Author; Mr Sajjad Lone, Minister for Social Welfare, Science & Technology, Agriculture & Rural Industries, J&K; Mr Aroon Purie, Founder- Publisher, Editor-in-Chief, India Today weekly magazine.
China was reported to have also expressed reservation over Deuba’s acceptance of an invitation from a ‘far right’ organization like the India Foundation.
Also, the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu was reported to have registered a strong objection at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) over the Taiwanese flag being put up during an art exhibition held at Siddhartha Art Gallery on Nov 6, claiming that the Nepalese government authorities allowed it.
The report also said China was additionally wary of the activities of leaders of the coalition partners of the new government led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal. It was not clear what actions on their part had angered China which was reported to have registered its displeasure both formally and informally against the government and the ruling party leaders in recent days.
China was also reported to be miffed with what was started to be “the activities” of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi, although no instance was mentioned. The report added that a representative of the Chinese embassy openly alleged that Nidhi had harbored negative intentions against China in all his activities.
Besides, China was reported to have objected to a recent decision of the government to grant holidays during the upcoming visits of the Indian and Chinese presidents. The objection appeared to be over the fact that the Indian President was being treated with respect equal to that towards the Chinese President. “Whether the Chinese president will visit Nepal or not has not been fixed yet. But the government has already announced to give a holiday when he visits Nepal. China has expressed displeasure over such a decision of the government,” the report quoted an unnamed Chinese source as saying.