The Chinese media has accused India of "interfering" in its relations with Nepal and 'pressuring' new leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda to move away from Beijing.

That Prachanda last week chose India as his first overseas destination as Prime Minister rather than China - as he had done eight years ago - has appeared to rankle with Chinese strategic experts and State media.

WHAT XU LIANG SAID

In an article published Tuesday in the Global Times, a paper under the official People's Daily stable, Xu Liang, the Executive Director of the Indian Studies Center at the Beijing International Studies University, said, "It looks like the bilateral relationship between China and Nepal has suddenly turned fragile and sensitive."

"Obviously, China feels tricked," he said. "When Kathmandu needed Beijing to relieve pressure from New Delhi, it got close to China and signed a series of crucial agreements with Beijing which would help Nepal get rid of its reliance on India."

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China and Nepal had grown closer under the previous KP Sharma Oli government. Amid a border blockade with India, both sides agreed a number of ambitious infrastructure deals, in March even signing an agreement for a landmark cross-border railway.

However, China is now worried that the projects face an uncertain fate under the new government, Xu said. While recent reports said Beijing had even decided to reschedule a planned October visit by President Xi Jinping, China has moved to quell those fears, reportedly assuring Kathmandu of a top visit by year-end.

"During his tour in India this time, the Pancheshwar Project, reconstruction after the earthquake and the East-West Railway program are on the agenda of high-level meetings. However, all those are among the core subjects of China's Belt and Road initiative that can benefit Nepal," Xu said. "Against such a backdrop, people cannot help but ask whether Prachanda is seeking reconciliation with New Delhi or maintaining Nepal's status of being controlled by India."

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He said that "under pressure from India" Prachanda was "likely to derail the process" of closer ties with China. This would be Nepal's loss, he added, as China had provided it opportunities to be less dependent on India. "Today's Nepal does not need opportunism, but more politicians with perspective and strategies. Only such politicians can seize the opportunities offered by China's 'B&R' initiative, figure out a way to become less dependent on New Delhi and turn Nepal into a completely independent country."

AI JUN'S ARGUMENT

A separate article in the paper, by Ai Jun, argued that the recent visit by Prachandra to India had shown that "India was seeking to 'claw back ground from China' which does not sound like a meeting with fully open mind."

With Delhi "alarmed" by the agreements signed by the previous Oli government, "ndia is now trying to turn the tables", he wrote. "But such narrow-minded geopolitical logic will do favour to nobody."

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He added that "while China has never asked Kathmandu to pick a side, the latter has always felt pressure from India in terms of security and internal affairs."

"It might not be easy for Nepal to remain unbiased toward the two giant neighbours against such a backdrop," said Ai. "However, if Nepal wants to gain maximum benefit from the situation and thrive, it must not let itself turn into any side's pawn. Keeping good relations with both China and India is Kathmandu's optimal choice."







