China Loses Ground in Nepal
The DiplomatMar 07, 2023
On Thursday, Nepalese lawmakers elected Ram Chandra Poudel as president as the country faces political instability with a fragile coalition government that has been in power for only a few months.
884 federal parliament and provincial assembly members gathered in the Nepali capital of Kathmandu to vote between two career politicians: Poudel, the senior leader of the Nepali Congress (NC) party, and Subash Chandra Nembang of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist).
The recent turbulence in Nepal's political atmosphere marks an unfavorable turn for China, which had sought to capitalize on a deepening relationship between Nepal's communist bloc. Its desperate attempt to exploit a friendly government under Dahal is far from over, however, as it will now broaden its strategy beyond just the communist parties, with a new focus on the NC party in order to secure its hegemonic foothold in the nation.
While this election has certainly caused economic turmoil, Nepali-Chinese relations won't be affected, as major parties in Nepal have all been clear that Kathmandu must maintain good relationships with both the PRC and India. Exchanges with Beijing mean tangible benefits to Nepalis, including high-quality cooperation in investment, infrastructure, and other areas.