Nepal endorses new law on Hong Kong, backs One China policy
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Nepal has said it supports One China policy and calls enactment of new law taking away certain rights from Hong Kong as internal matter of China.
Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli handshakes with visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping in October 2019. (Photo: Reuters file)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Nepal has endorsed China’s new controversial law on Hong Kong
- Nepal says it supports One China policy and Hong Kong is an internal matter
- Nepal sees the new security law as part of efforts to maintain law and order in Hong Kong
In what appears as another signal of its diplomatic shift towards China, Nepal has endorsed the communist regime’s new law on Hong Kong. Nepal’s foreign affairs ministry on Wednesday said the country supports One China policy and considers the newly enacted National Security Law a right step towards maintaining law and order.
“Nepal reiterates its [support to] One China policy and considers Hong Kong as an integral part of the People’s Republic of China. Maintenance of peace, law and order is a primary responsibility of a nation. Nepal believes in non-interference in the internal affairs of any country and supports China’s efforts to maintain law and order in Hong Kong,” said Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bharat Raj Paudyal responding to queries on China’s new controversial law.
China’s parliament, the National People’s Congress gave its nod to the new law at its annual session in May. The law does away with the ‘One Country Two Systems’ law under which China had taken control of Hong Kong from the UK in 1997.
The decision of the Chinese government has drawn flak from many countries with the US leading the charge. India has not made a statement on the matter. The support for China has come at a time when it was getting isolated over the new law.
The US has threatned to impose sanctions on China and withdraw special concessions extended to Hong Kong. The UK too is unhappy about the Chinese move.
Nepal’s decision to go public with its support for complete Chinese takeover of Hong Kong has come at a time when its relation with India is under stress over boundary question in the Uttarakhand sector. Nepal recently released a new map claiming territories of Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh of the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand.
Many in Indian establishment see Nepal’s renewed assertion on territories in Uttarakhand as a manifestion of growing Chinese influence in the Himalayan country. China has increased its investment in Nepal’s infrastructure and technology. The communist rule in Nepal sees ideological affinity with China, and has appreared drifting away from its pro-India stance held long by Kathmandu.
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