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By signing these agreements, Oli has gone against the stand of the opposition Nepali Congress. Given the BRI’s history of developing into a significant debt trap for small countries and undermining their sovereignty, this move could pose serious challenges. Nepal is already struggling with Chinese investments and pressure to repay them, exemplified by the Pokhara International Airport, which is primarily financed by Beijing. The airport has been a financial burden on Nepal’s small economy and has failed to generate sufficient revenue. India’s concerns regarding potential military and strategic use of the airport by Beijing have also complicated its operations.
Nepal, a landlocked country, aspires to have better access to ports and connectivity, which are critical for trade and economic growth. Xi’s promise to transform Nepal into a “land-locked nation” is quite attractive. However, geographical realities cannot be ignored.
India remains the most logical route to fulfill Nepal’s aspirations. The historical, geographical and cultural ties between Nepal and India are unmatched. While Kathmandu should take advantage of its position in developing geopolitical dynamics, ignoring caution and lessons from history could result in serious consequences.
(Dr Gunjan Singh is Associate Professor at Jindal Law School, OP Jindal Global University. His research interests are in the areas of Chinese foreign policy, China-South Asia relations, domestic politics in China, Chinese media, Mainland-Taiwan relations and space security. This is an opinion and the views expressed are the author’s own. The Quint Neither endorses nor is responsible for them.)
