Can India learn lesson from China's diplomacy?
Yuba Nath Lamsal
Not even a week had passed since new Chinese Ambassador Yang Houlan had presented his credentials to President Dr Ram Baran Yadav in Kathmandu, New Delhi announced the name of a new Ambassador to Nepal to replace its unpopular envoy—Rakesh Sood. Jayanta Prasad, a career diplomat who has already served more than two and half decade in the Indian ministry of external affairs, is India's new ambassador to Nepal. Although Prasad 's fundamental duty will be to serve Indian interest in Nepal and pursue the policy and agenda of his own country, he will have to work hard to rebuild India's badly bruised image in the mind of Nepalese people. The new Indian ambassador, if wants to build more cooperative partnership with Nepal and create India's better image in Nepal, will have to work extra time to firstly clean up the heap of diplomatic mess his predecessor Rakesh Sood had created and secondly pursue different approach so that the susceptibility of Nepalese people towards India would, to a large degree, be dispelled. If Jayanta Prasad shows the courage to depart from the style and method of his predecessors and acts like a diplomat, it would pave the practical ground for more friendly, cooperative and cordial relationship between Nepal and India.
However, such a behavior from the current Indian establishment and its representative is least expected given the attitude and policy of the India towards Nepal. India's Nepal policy is guided by colonial mindset and New Delhi continues to pursue the same old polices that British colonial power adopted in the past. Although the conduct of diplomacy is guided by the policy of the state, the behavior and skill of a particular person makes a big difference. The sentiments of the Nepalese people were badly hurt during the tenure of Rakesh Sood as an ambassador. Sood forgot that he was a diplomat and his job was to promote bilateral relations between Nepal and India. Instead, he behaved as though he was here as a governor general, who indulged more in political activities than conducting diplomacy. His activities, actions and overtures often hurt the sentiments of patriotic Nepali people and contributed to heightened anti-Indian feelings in Nepal. In response, Sood was often greeted with black flags by people wherever he went. The insult to the diplomat of any country is definitely not a good thing but this was the making of Indian establishment in general and the outgoing ambassador Sood in particular.
Nepal is a priority country for India. India treats Nepal as its priority country because it wants to keep it under its sphere of influence. India's contribution to Nepal's development, stability and peace is always negative, which is the main contributor to rising anti-Indian sentiments in Nepal. It is expected that the new Indian ambassador would learn lesson from the diplomatic blunder of his predecessor and use his long experience and diplomatic acumen for better bilateral relations between Nepal and India. As an ambassador he cannot go beyond the policy of his government and change the state policies, he can dispel the susceptibility and hatred through his good conduct of diplomacy.
Nepal is also a priority country of China. Beijing's priority is to help Nepal so that it can be self-reliant, stable, strong and peaceful. China is of the view that its interests are best served when its neighbours are stable, strong, peaceful and prosperous. This is exactly the same policy when it comes to the relationship with Nepal. Nepal-China relations are age-old which date back to as early as seventh century. But there is no problem in the bilateral relationship between Nepal and China. At the same time, relations between Nepal and India are always marked by susceptibility and misunderstanding. Beijing has always been willing to provide necessary moral and material support for Nepal's stability and development whereas New Delhi always wants to squeeze and exploit Nepal. This is the fundamental difference in Nepal's bilateral relations with China and India.
China has its security concern in Nepal. China and Nepal have perfectly good neighbourly and friendly relations and neither of them poses any kind of threat. China's security concern in Nepal is not only its own security but also the security of Nepal. This is mainly because of Nepal's open border with India and unrestricted and unregulated movement of the people across Nepal-India border, which has been misused by some India-backed unscrupulous and criminal elements to launch disruptive activities in Tibet.
The world has recognized Tibet as an integral part of China. But some countries including India have adopted double standard. When dealing with China diplomatically, they accept that Tibet is a part of China but behind the scene they have extended moral and material support to criminal activities to destabilize China in general and Tibet in particular. With the rise of China economically on the world stage, the western capitalist countries in collaboration with India are trying to encircle China from all sides and create trouble in China with the objective of weakening Beijing economically, politically and militarily. Tibet issue is being used as their best bet to harass and embarrass China in the international arena. Some western countries and India have chosen Nepal as a launch pad to instigate anti-China and criminal activities especially in Tibet.
Nepal has adopted one-China policy and its long-cherished policy is not to allow its territory to be used against any of our neighbours. China has appreciated Nepal's one China policy and its commitment not to allow anti-China activities in Nepal. Despite its resolve not to allow its territory to be used against other countries, Nepal has not been able to completely check anti-China activities, which is attributed in part to its resource crunch and in part to the involvement of the international and regional powers behind anti-China activities. An English language weekly of Nepal reported that CIA alone made more than 42 million US dollars available for the activities aiming at disrupting the Beijing Olympic Games held three years ago. Funded by CIA and some other western countries and executed by India in collaboration with some of their agents in Nepal, they vigorously launched activities to disrupt the Olympic Games. However, such activities were prevented because of greater vigil, caution and commitment of both Nepal and China. Beijing soon after the Olympic Games had extended its wholehearted appreciation to the efforts of Nepal government.
China understands the sensitivity and problems Nepal is facing and it has been effortful in strengthening Nepal's capability to tackle and check anti-China activities. Beijing knows that its interests are best served only when Nepal becomes strong, stable and peaceful. But China's worry has intensified following India-US strategic and nuclear partnership, which was aimed at weakening Beijing. China has suspected that Nepal could be another flash point of conflict because of US-India alliance and their plan to use Nepal as a launch pad against China. More than that China's susceptibility has grown after India started directly interfering in Nepal's affairs. The Madhes-based parties in Nepal are the creation of India and the agenda raised by these parties India's making in order to have better and stronger control over Nepal's politics and other affairs, which has been viewed by patriotic Nepalese people as well as by China as a dangerous move to undermine Nepal's sovereignty and ultimately checkmate China. The issue concerning single Madhes state with the right to self-determination is the agenda of India which wants to split Nepal and create a separate country in Terai and ultimately annex it in the same fashion as it did in Sikkim in 1975. This is a rehearsal to first split Nepal into different parts and finally take over one after another. China has understood New Delhi's sinister design and has been cautiously watching these developments. If India's design succeeds in Nepal, it will have its fallout also in China's southern parts, which China must have understood more clearly.
Nepal is crucially important for the security of China's south-western frontier. Although Nepal has always been a priority country for China, the unfolding events especially over the last four years have made China more worried and serious. The choice of the present ambassador to Nepal, who is a senior official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has a greater access to China's power circle, is indicative of the fact that China attaches greater importance to the relationship with Nepal and is more serious in Nepal's security situation. Ambassador Yang is well verse both in international diplomacy as well as security matters. Now China is more concerned not only with Nepal's security but also its social, cultural and economic development. China is willing to work together and support in any fields Nepal wants. China has already shown interests in Nepal's big infrastructure projects, hydro-power development, expanding bilateral trade and investment and also cultural assistance. Recently, a non-governmental organization of China has shown interest for the development of Lumbini—the birth place of Lord Buddha and an international pilgrimage of Buddhists all over the world. If this project at all kicks off and completes as per the design and schedule, Lumbini would be an international Buddhist hub which would help Nepal's tourism industry to leap forward. Moreover, it would also help counter the sinister design of India that has launched an international disinformation campaign about Lumbini and the Kingdom of Kapilvastu.
In contrast, India's role and interest in Nepal are different, which are marked more by its desire to control Nepal's affairs especially security and foreign policy. As a result, Nepal-India were always characterized by suspicion and susceptibility, which got worse during the tenure of ambassador Sood. It seems that New Delhi has recently realized the blunder in the design, handling and conduct of Nepal policy. A section of Indian intelligentsia has pointed out this weakness in the conduct of Indian foreign policy and has sought change in Nepal policy and its handling. A senior diplomat like Jayanta Prasad must be aware of this situation and is expected to correct the past mistakes. Although the ambassador cannot change the policy, he can at least demonstrate universally accepted diplomatic behavior and work to promote bilateral relations on the basis of mutual benefit and without hurting the sentiments of Nepali people. Nepalese people have no ill feelings towards India and Indian people. Their objection is only against the hegemonic and hawkish attitude and policy of Indian establishment. If India changes its hawkish and hegemonic policy, Nepal and Indian can have excellent relations which could a model for other countries in the world. For this, India needs to learn a lesson from China's diplomacy especially with its neighbours.
Not even a week had passed since new Chinese Ambassador Yang Houlan had presented his credentials to President Dr Ram Baran Yadav in Kathmandu, New Delhi announced the name of a new Ambassador to Nepal to replace its unpopular envoy—Rakesh Sood. Jayanta Prasad, a career diplomat who has already served more than two and half decade in the Indian ministry of external affairs, is India's new ambassador to Nepal. Although Prasad 's fundamental duty will be to serve Indian interest in Nepal and pursue the policy and agenda of his own country, he will have to work hard to rebuild India's badly bruised image in the mind of Nepalese people. The new Indian ambassador, if wants to build more cooperative partnership with Nepal and create India's better image in Nepal, will have to work extra time to firstly clean up the heap of diplomatic mess his predecessor Rakesh Sood had created and secondly pursue different approach so that the susceptibility of Nepalese people towards India would, to a large degree, be dispelled. If Jayanta Prasad shows the courage to depart from the style and method of his predecessors and acts like a diplomat, it would pave the practical ground for more friendly, cooperative and cordial relationship between Nepal and India.
However, such a behavior from the current Indian establishment and its representative is least expected given the attitude and policy of the India towards Nepal. India's Nepal policy is guided by colonial mindset and New Delhi continues to pursue the same old polices that British colonial power adopted in the past. Although the conduct of diplomacy is guided by the policy of the state, the behavior and skill of a particular person makes a big difference. The sentiments of the Nepalese people were badly hurt during the tenure of Rakesh Sood as an ambassador. Sood forgot that he was a diplomat and his job was to promote bilateral relations between Nepal and India. Instead, he behaved as though he was here as a governor general, who indulged more in political activities than conducting diplomacy. His activities, actions and overtures often hurt the sentiments of patriotic Nepali people and contributed to heightened anti-Indian feelings in Nepal. In response, Sood was often greeted with black flags by people wherever he went. The insult to the diplomat of any country is definitely not a good thing but this was the making of Indian establishment in general and the outgoing ambassador Sood in particular.
Nepal is a priority country for India. India treats Nepal as its priority country because it wants to keep it under its sphere of influence. India's contribution to Nepal's development, stability and peace is always negative, which is the main contributor to rising anti-Indian sentiments in Nepal. It is expected that the new Indian ambassador would learn lesson from the diplomatic blunder of his predecessor and use his long experience and diplomatic acumen for better bilateral relations between Nepal and India. As an ambassador he cannot go beyond the policy of his government and change the state policies, he can dispel the susceptibility and hatred through his good conduct of diplomacy.
Nepal is also a priority country of China. Beijing's priority is to help Nepal so that it can be self-reliant, stable, strong and peaceful. China is of the view that its interests are best served when its neighbours are stable, strong, peaceful and prosperous. This is exactly the same policy when it comes to the relationship with Nepal. Nepal-China relations are age-old which date back to as early as seventh century. But there is no problem in the bilateral relationship between Nepal and China. At the same time, relations between Nepal and India are always marked by susceptibility and misunderstanding. Beijing has always been willing to provide necessary moral and material support for Nepal's stability and development whereas New Delhi always wants to squeeze and exploit Nepal. This is the fundamental difference in Nepal's bilateral relations with China and India.
China has its security concern in Nepal. China and Nepal have perfectly good neighbourly and friendly relations and neither of them poses any kind of threat. China's security concern in Nepal is not only its own security but also the security of Nepal. This is mainly because of Nepal's open border with India and unrestricted and unregulated movement of the people across Nepal-India border, which has been misused by some India-backed unscrupulous and criminal elements to launch disruptive activities in Tibet.
The world has recognized Tibet as an integral part of China. But some countries including India have adopted double standard. When dealing with China diplomatically, they accept that Tibet is a part of China but behind the scene they have extended moral and material support to criminal activities to destabilize China in general and Tibet in particular. With the rise of China economically on the world stage, the western capitalist countries in collaboration with India are trying to encircle China from all sides and create trouble in China with the objective of weakening Beijing economically, politically and militarily. Tibet issue is being used as their best bet to harass and embarrass China in the international arena. Some western countries and India have chosen Nepal as a launch pad to instigate anti-China and criminal activities especially in Tibet.
Nepal has adopted one-China policy and its long-cherished policy is not to allow its territory to be used against any of our neighbours. China has appreciated Nepal's one China policy and its commitment not to allow anti-China activities in Nepal. Despite its resolve not to allow its territory to be used against other countries, Nepal has not been able to completely check anti-China activities, which is attributed in part to its resource crunch and in part to the involvement of the international and regional powers behind anti-China activities. An English language weekly of Nepal reported that CIA alone made more than 42 million US dollars available for the activities aiming at disrupting the Beijing Olympic Games held three years ago. Funded by CIA and some other western countries and executed by India in collaboration with some of their agents in Nepal, they vigorously launched activities to disrupt the Olympic Games. However, such activities were prevented because of greater vigil, caution and commitment of both Nepal and China. Beijing soon after the Olympic Games had extended its wholehearted appreciation to the efforts of Nepal government.
China understands the sensitivity and problems Nepal is facing and it has been effortful in strengthening Nepal's capability to tackle and check anti-China activities. Beijing knows that its interests are best served only when Nepal becomes strong, stable and peaceful. But China's worry has intensified following India-US strategic and nuclear partnership, which was aimed at weakening Beijing. China has suspected that Nepal could be another flash point of conflict because of US-India alliance and their plan to use Nepal as a launch pad against China. More than that China's susceptibility has grown after India started directly interfering in Nepal's affairs. The Madhes-based parties in Nepal are the creation of India and the agenda raised by these parties India's making in order to have better and stronger control over Nepal's politics and other affairs, which has been viewed by patriotic Nepalese people as well as by China as a dangerous move to undermine Nepal's sovereignty and ultimately checkmate China. The issue concerning single Madhes state with the right to self-determination is the agenda of India which wants to split Nepal and create a separate country in Terai and ultimately annex it in the same fashion as it did in Sikkim in 1975. This is a rehearsal to first split Nepal into different parts and finally take over one after another. China has understood New Delhi's sinister design and has been cautiously watching these developments. If India's design succeeds in Nepal, it will have its fallout also in China's southern parts, which China must have understood more clearly.
Nepal is crucially important for the security of China's south-western frontier. Although Nepal has always been a priority country for China, the unfolding events especially over the last four years have made China more worried and serious. The choice of the present ambassador to Nepal, who is a senior official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has a greater access to China's power circle, is indicative of the fact that China attaches greater importance to the relationship with Nepal and is more serious in Nepal's security situation. Ambassador Yang is well verse both in international diplomacy as well as security matters. Now China is more concerned not only with Nepal's security but also its social, cultural and economic development. China is willing to work together and support in any fields Nepal wants. China has already shown interests in Nepal's big infrastructure projects, hydro-power development, expanding bilateral trade and investment and also cultural assistance. Recently, a non-governmental organization of China has shown interest for the development of Lumbini—the birth place of Lord Buddha and an international pilgrimage of Buddhists all over the world. If this project at all kicks off and completes as per the design and schedule, Lumbini would be an international Buddhist hub which would help Nepal's tourism industry to leap forward. Moreover, it would also help counter the sinister design of India that has launched an international disinformation campaign about Lumbini and the Kingdom of Kapilvastu.
In contrast, India's role and interest in Nepal are different, which are marked more by its desire to control Nepal's affairs especially security and foreign policy. As a result, Nepal-India were always characterized by suspicion and susceptibility, which got worse during the tenure of ambassador Sood. It seems that New Delhi has recently realized the blunder in the design, handling and conduct of Nepal policy. A section of Indian intelligentsia has pointed out this weakness in the conduct of Indian foreign policy and has sought change in Nepal policy and its handling. A senior diplomat like Jayanta Prasad must be aware of this situation and is expected to correct the past mistakes. Although the ambassador cannot change the policy, he can at least demonstrate universally accepted diplomatic behavior and work to promote bilateral relations on the basis of mutual benefit and without hurting the sentiments of Nepali people. Nepalese people have no ill feelings towards India and Indian people. Their objection is only against the hegemonic and hawkish attitude and policy of Indian establishment. If India changes its hawkish and hegemonic policy, Nepal and Indian can have excellent relations which could a model for other countries in the world. For this, India needs to learn a lesson from China's diplomacy especially with its neighbours.
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