China expands territorial claims with new fence along Nepal-Tibet border
- In Reports
- 04:36 PM, Oct 19, 2024
- Myind Staff
China has increased its territorial ambitions by building a fence along the Nepal-Tibet border. This new structure, reinforced with barbed wire and concrete barriers, clearly ignores the internationally recognised boundary between China and Nepal, extending deep into Nepalese territory. This action has raised concerns about China’s growing disregard for sovereign borders.
Recent satellite images have revealed a large inscription near the fence, which reads "Long Live the Chinese Communist Party." This message stretches 600 feet across a hillside and is so enormous that it can be seen from space, serving as a clear act of intimidation towards Nepal and its neighbouring countries. The New York Times has reported on these satellite images, bringing further global attention to this incursion.
This incident mirrors previous reports of Chinese territorial aggression. In 2021, Nepalese lawmaker Jeevan Bahadur Shahi published a report detailing Chinese military encroachments in the Humla district, which borders China. The report claimed that Chinese forces had destroyed eight border pillars and built infrastructure deep within Nepal’s territory. However, the Nepalese government suppressed these findings due to pressure from Beijing.
The details of this report later leaked to the BBC, sparking public outrage but resulting in no significant action from the government. Meanwhile, China has continued its expansionist policies, with reports indicating that over 11 regions along the Nepal-China border have been affected by similar land grabs. This latest fencing is consistent with China’s long-standing "salami-slicing" strategy, which involves making small, incremental territorial gains that ultimately lead to significant land grabs.
China has employed this method in other areas, including the South China Sea and along the contentious India-China border. Recently, tensions have escalated along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, where a standoff with Indian forces has continued for over four years.
Adding to regional tensions, China has also renamed locations in Arunachal Pradesh, claiming them as Chinese territory, a claim firmly rejected by India. Additionally, Chinese authorities have increased pressure on ethnic Tibetan Nepalis living near the border, reportedly coercing villagers to avoid public displays of the Dalai Lama’s image under the threat of reprisals. This is part of a broader effort by China to suppress Tibetan culture and identity, extending its repressive measures into Nepalese territory.
Despite these clear violations of sovereignty, the Nepalese government has largely remained silent. The country's leadership, increasingly dependent on China for economic and ideological support, has chosen to overlook these encroachments to maintain good relations with Beijing.
China's ongoing border incursions in Nepal raise serious questions about the future of Nepal's sovereignty. It remains to be seen whether Nepal’s leaders will find the courage to resist Chinese expansionism or continue to submit to pressure from Beijing. The global community should also pay attention; if China’s actions in Nepal go unchallenged, they may encourage similar aggression in other regions, particularly in India and the South China Sea.
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