KATHMANDU: China has firmly rejected United States (U.S.) Ambassador-nominee to Nepal Dean Thompson’s opening statement before the Senate Foreign Relation Committee confirmation hearing earlier this week.
The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a confirmation hearing for several key nominees, including Thompson, earlier this week on Wednesday.
In his opening statement, Thompson said, “In February, Nepal’s parliament ratified the $500 million Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact (MCC) in the face of a torrid People’s Republic of China (PRC) disinformation campaign.”
Thompson added, “This project will build electricity transmission lines to connect Nepal’s clean, abundant hydropower with South Asia’s energy grid. It will also build high-quality roads in Nepal. These projects will increase the prosperity of both of our countries.”
Spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu, responding to a query regarding Thompson’s remarks, said that China noted his remarks, and labeled them totally baseless and aimed at slandering China.
The Chinese Embassy spokesperson added that the U.S. side also offended Nepal and its people, and ran a true disinformation. “China firmly rejects it.”
A statement issued by spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu read, “It is well known that MCC Compact between Nepal and the U.S. has sparked heated debates in Nepal,” adding further, “The Nepali Parliament specially passed an “interpretive declaration”, which declares that the Constitution of Nepal shall prevail over the Compact and other associated agreements and that being a party to the Compact, Nepal shall not be a part of any United States’ strategy, military or security alliance including the Indo-Pacific Strategy.”
The statement added: “These are legitimate actions of the Nepali government and people to defend their sovereignty and independence and safeguard national interests. The remarks of the US side are totally baseless. They have not only slandered China, but also offended Nepal and its people. It is a true “disinformation”. China firmly rejects it.”
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