Nepal asserts sovereignty, Objects India – China Trade deal through Nepalese territory

Members of the House of Representative cutting across party lines asked the government to convey to both India and China that their unilateral agreement of  building roads via Lipulekh is undermining Nepal’s sovereignty and it is not acceptable to us.  The collective mood in the house indicated  that it is likely to impact Prime Minister Oli’s official visit to India scheduled for September 16 and 17. The border issue has contributed to trouble and tension between Nepal and India in the past as well.  PM Oli was not present in the house as he has been suffering from cold and cough. 

The issue was raised in the House  by  Members of different parties including the ruling Communist Party Of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist and the Nepali congress. Mahesh Bartaula said “ PM Oli during his visit must tell both the countries, India and China  that any disputes and territorial disputes have to be dealt on the basis  of sovereign equality together” Similarly Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa  mentioned that agreement between the two countries  as an objectionable and unacceptable act. Meanwhile,  Biswa Prakash Sharma, another General Secretary of the party said that all parties stand together on the issue of sovereignty and the agreement in Delhi on Tuesday is ‘not acceptable.’  “ We must clearly oppose what the two countries have agreed”. The government, parliament, political parties, and the entire nation must stand on a single vision and commitment when it comes to questions of sovereignty and nationalism. We must move forward together”. 

On Tuesday During his visit to India, Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi and India’s  National Security Advisor Ajit Doval came to an agreement to construct three roads connecting Uttarakhand and Tibet without informing and securing consent of Nepal. One of  the roads passes  through Lipulekh, a Nepali territory. This in fact comes as a reiteration of what the two countries did during the visit  of Indian PM Narendra Modi  to China in May 2015. However, Nepal at that time had immediately sent a diplomatic note with a message that it was not acceptable for the country. 

Writing on X regarding the issue, Kamal Thapa, Ex Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nepal has mentioned that “Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura are integral parts of Nepal as per the 1816 Sugauli Treaty. India’s unilateral actions, including agreements with China, violate Nepal’s sovereignty. I commend the Government of Nepal for opposing these agreements and urge stronger diplomatic measures to safeguard our territorial rights.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal has reiterated that Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura, situated east of the Mahakali River, are integral parts of Nepal’s territory. These areas are officially included in Nepal’s national map, which is enshrined in the Constitution of Nepal. The Ministry has urged both India and China to refrain from conducting any activities such as road construction, expansion, or border trade in these regions without Nepal’s consent.

Note States that “It is well known that the government of Nepal has consistently urged the government of India not to carry out any activities such as road construction/expansion or border trade in that area. The fact that the area is Nepali territory has also been communicated to the friendly nation, China.”