Buddhi Narayan Shrestha

When we look back into the border business between Nepal and China, Sino-Nepal Boundary Agreement was done on March 21, 1960.

As a consequence, Nepal-China Boundary Treaty was signed on October 5, 1961. After the agreement and followed by a treaty, border demarcation works with the erection of pillars and markers started jointly in the field.

To materialize the demarcation work, Nepal-China Joint Boundary Committee was formed and field survey teams had been deputed to the border areas. During border demarcation, many of the spots of various segments, the boundary line was demarcated without any disputes.

However, there were some debates, disputes and controversies in 32 places along the boundary, including the peak of Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest).

At the time of demarcation it was adopted by both parties, the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence and in a spirit of fairness, reasonableness, mutual understanding and most importantly respecting each other as Nepal and China have the equal rights and status in the international arena. It is commendable that all the disputes, claims and counter-claims were settled forever in accordance with the principles of equality, mutual benefit, friendship, mutual understanding and accommodation.

With this spirit all the issues, except Mount Everest (Sagarmatha) had been settled by the Joint Boundary Committee. Regarding the question of Everest, the dispute was settled at the prime ministerial level and it was ended during the visit of the Prime Minister Chou En-Lai to Kathmandu, as he stated in a press meet on 28 April 1960 that ‘Mount Everest belongs to Nepal’ (Bhairab Risal September 9, 1999, Patrika Weekly).

In connection to the demarcation all the disputes had been settled and resolved amicably by November 1962 with a good understanding, traditional friendship, long term co-operation and mutual trust within a period of one and half years. After the completion of boundary demarcation work, Boundary Protocol was signed by the plenipotentiaries of both the countries on January 20, 1963.

Two issues have been emerged since 2007.

One of them is Border Marker Number 57, located at north of Lapchigaun (Korlangpari Tippa) in Lamabagar area of Dolakha district. There is a discussion on the location of this marker, as Nepal has claimed around 6 hectares of land.

The second issue is the height of Sagarmatha (Mount Everest). China has proposed to write the height as 8844.43 meter on the Nepal-China Strip-map. But Nepal is firm to mention the traditional height as 8848 mtr.

China has pressed to take the so called rock height of Quomulungma (Mount Everest). On the contrary, Nepal has pleaded that unless and until we measure ourselves the height of Sagarmatha, we shall stuck on the traditional height. The next logic is that the snow height has been maintained for all the mountains by almost all the countries of the world. So the issues have been entangled and stranded.

During the demarcation in 1961-62, the disputed and amicably resolved 32 spots including the Mount Everest and presently emerged two minor issues have been tabulated as followings:

Serial Number of Disputed Area Name of the Districts of Nepal Disputed and Resolved Spots and Areas* Name of China’s Tibetan County 1 Darchula Tinkar Lipu Pass Burang 2 Darchula Chhangru Burang 3 Darchula Chhangda Dosandh Burang 4 Humla Hilsa Burang-Drongpa 5 Humla Nalakamkar Himal & Pass Drongpa 6 Humla Naara Pass Drongpa 7 Mustang Limi Drongpa 8 Mustang Chhoten Marpo Saga 9 Mustang Ghyutoo Saga 10 Gorkha Rui Village (near Aattharasaya Stream) Kyirong 11 Gorkha Yangra Himal Kyirong 12 Rasuwa Rasuwasgadhi (near the bridge) Kyirong 13 Rasuwa Bhangre and Sanjung (8 pasture land) Kyirong 14 Rasuwa Langtang Himal Nyalam 15 Sindhupalchowk Babuk Chuksa Nyalam 16 Sindhupalchowk Draam Nyalam 17 Sindhupalchowk Khasa Nyalam 18 Sindhupalchowk Kharane Tippa Nyalam 19 Dolakha Ralung/Dalung (north of Lamabagar) Tingri 20 Dolakha Lapchi (Korlanfpariko Tippa) Tingri 21 Dolakha Sotham, Sokta, Lunam (Lamabagar Area) Tingri 22 Dolakha Raalam Tingri 23 Dolakha Gaurishankar Himal Tingri 24 Dolakha Tippa of the source of Jamur Stream Tingri 25 Solukhumbu Nangpala Pass Tingri 26 Solukhumbu Sagarmatha (Mount Everfest) Tingri 27 Sankhuwasabha Thudaam Tingri 28 Sankhuwasabha Popti Pass Tingkye 29 Sankhuwasabha Kimathanka Tingkye 30 Sankhuwasabha Lungdep, Chyanga (northof Kimathank a) Tingkye 31 Sankhuwasabha Ragla Pass 32 Taplejung Tiptaala Pass Tingkye Presently Emerged

1 Dolakha Discussion on the location of Border Marker 57 (north of Lapchi Village). Nepal says it is misplaced. Nyalam-Tingri 2 Solukhumbu Height of Sagarmatha (Everest). China says 8844.43 mtr whereas Nepal says 8848 mtr traditional height. Tingri

Source: Nepali, Chittaranjan (April 20, 1964), Nepal-China Boundary Treaty, His Majesty’s Government of Nepal, page 33 and other sources.