KATHMANDU: Chinese nationals are traversing various parts of Nepal, including the Indian border, with no imposed restrictions, prompting security authorities to express growing concerns over potential security threats to Nepal.

In the past year alone, 15 Chinese individuals were apprehended while attempting to enter India from Nepal without valid documents.

Security reports suggest a sinister motive behind the actions of these Chinese citizens, indicating a deliberate attempt to strain India-Madhes relations through the propagation of false narratives.

Sources further allege that many Chinese nationals have resorted to creating fake Nepali citizenship certificates and passports to engage in illicit activities in both Nepal and India.

A noteworthy incident involves the arrest of 10 Chinese nationals by Nepal Police in a gold smuggling case, who were found to have forged Indian Aadhar Cards from the Indian state of Manipur.

Highly-placed security sources reveal their involvement in various criminal activities within Nepal, including gold smuggling, while also engaging in the preparation of counterfeit Nepali citizenship documents from the northern region by corrupting local authorities.

Security authorities claim that the actions of these Chinese nationals pose a potential demographic threat to the northern region in the years to come.

It is observed that these illegal Chinese individuals, armed with forged Nepali documents, are attempting to secure employment in diverse sectors in India, including government services, taking advantage of the provisions outlined in the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship between India and Nepal.

The security sources emphasize that the infiltration of Chinese criminals may lead to increased scrutiny of ordinary Nepali citizens, as these criminals have been implicated in trafficking gullible Nepali nationals to regions such as Myanmar for various illicit activities, including online fraud.

In response, security officials urge the people in Madhes to actively oppose the entry of Chinese individuals into the Terai-Madhesh region to safeguard national security and prevent potential criminal activities orchestrated by these infiltrators.