Agreement with China: A humiliating gesture

Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councilor Wang Yi was in Kathmandu earlier this week. Nepal and China signed three agreements during his visit to Nepal.

The Government of Nepal bragged to have signed the agreements. However, I wonder why Nepal had to implore Rs 356 million from the China government to construct a state-of-the-art facility hospital in Manang.

The question arises: Has Nepal reached to that extent to demand such a negligible amount to construct a hospital? Isn’t this preposterous? Consider for instance: Nepal has a significant number of Nepali investors or social campaigners who can make it happen – though not in a jiffy.

The country’s tax-payers could exultantly take up the responsibility to construct a hospital in Manang had the government encouraged them to do so. This, in fact, is unfortunate on the part of the government.

Or is it that the government is trying to snub the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce (FNCCI), CNI, banks or other organizations? Moreover, Nepal has already endorsed a law that obliges social responsibility.

The country’s tax-payers could exultantly take up the responsibility to construct a hospital in Manang had the government encouraged them to do so. This, in fact, is unfortunate on the part of the government.

Government’s move has embarrassed the entire Nepali populace. Even more humiliating is that the government begged for tents from such a huge economy like China. I would prefer to call this a reprehensible act on the part of Nepal government. Forget about Nepal’s foreign policy!

This not only embarrassed me but the entire country, which has its unique identity. Moreover, the issue of Rs 356 million to build a hospital offended us.

I wonder why Nepal’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Gyawali hangs around such idiocy. To recall, he floated the idea about sending Nepali workers to the Maldives. He should not have forgotten the very fact that Nepali Gurkhas have been internationally branded as ‘brave fighters’, not mere laborers? This has embarrassed the country.

The government should have prioritized other areas rather than engaging in such inconsequential issues. The visit of the Chinese foreign minister was, in fact, a good-will one amid hearsays of the impending visit of the Chinese President to Nepal. That should have been the priority.

The foreign minister could have proposed the idea of sending brave fighters to the Maldives rather than Nepali youths to work as laborers. Remember, Nepali Gurkhas are currently serving in countries like Brunei, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and India.

Meanwhile, why do we need Chinese instructors or volunteers to teach the Chinese language when Nepal has already a sufficient number of Chinese tutors? Moreover, Nepal has already some colleges and institutes that teach international languages, including Chinese. This is a very sensitive issue to ponder.

For instance, wasn’t the lesson learned by allowing Peace Corp volunteers to work in every nook and corner of the country enough? Also, take for instance the consequences of allowing North Koreans to work in Nepal. The government needs to be sensitive to such issues.

The government should have prioritized other areas rather than engaging in such inconsequential issues. The visit of the Chinese foreign minister was, in fact, a good-will one amid hearsays of the impending visit of the Chinese President to Nepal. That should have been the priority.

To be precise, the government of Nepal missed out major issues such as criminal cases related to Chinese nationals, trans-border connection, trade and transit points, tourism, among others, by focusing on minor stuff.

Friendship is something that needs to be steady and balanced, not stripped off. I would suggest Nepali journalists and foreign affairs experts compare and evaluate the visits of Indian Minister External Minister S Jayshanker and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. This would be quite enough to judge the incumbent government’s stance.

While Indian foreign minister was seated along the line with other diplomats, the Chinese minister was seated on a separate chair beside Prime Minister K P Oli during the courtesy call on PM Oli. I leave it to observers to analyze. The government should understand that minor things matter in diplomacy.

Nepali leaders should understand that Nepal’s economy is pegged with India. And submitting before the northern neighbor is definitely not a good gesture on the part of the Nepali communist government.

Let me come back to Xi’s impending visit to Nepal somewhere in mid-October. But is Nepal prepared with all basic requirements and inevitabilities to receive such a personality as well as to maintain the decorum? Most importantly, Nepal needs infrastructure such as vehicles for the carcade. For instance, if Xi wishes to visit Lumbini, can Nepal afford a VVIP helicopter?

Remember, then Indian President Pranab Mukherjee had to use a private helicopter during his visit to Nepal. He did not pass any comments because of his saintly character.

Now, people have realized that the government has failed to maintain diplomatic correctness. People can see it, feel it or even hear it.