Taipei, April 4 (NationPress) The emergence of new political leadership in Kathmandu, alongside increasing challenges for China’s engagement with Nepal, offers optimism that robust democratic institutions will empower the Nepali populace to recognize Beijing's expansionist goals in Nepal and the broader South Asian area, as highlighted in a recent report.

“Nepal’s parliamentary election this year — the first post the Gen Z-led violent protests that ousted the previous government in September — signified a fundamental transformation in the country's political landscape. The election results emphatically dismissed traditional political parties, with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), under Balen Shah's leadership, capturing a majority in the 275-seat Nepalese House of Representatives. This significant shift in Nepal’s political arena poses a challenge to China's strategic ambitions in South Asia,” detailed the report from ‘Taipei Times’.

“Historically, China has endeavored to convert Nepal into a strategic asset within South Asia. A notable change in China’s approach to Nepal was evident in 2017, when Beijing facilitated the merger of two Nepalese communist parties — the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), led by K P Sharma Oli, and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), led by Pushpa Dahal. This alliance paved the path for Oli's ascension as Nepalese Prime Minister,” it further explained.

The report observes that the establishment of a new government headed by Prime Minister Balen Shah in Kathmandu is seen as a remarkable setback for China’s policy in Nepal.

Furthermore, the waning influence of communist parties in Nepal is expected to hinder China's covert attempts to entrench the principles of a communist regime in South Asia and beyond.

“Therefore, the defeat of Oli and other prominent communist leaders reflects not only public discontent but also a growing unease regarding China’s influence in Nepal. This sentiment is echoed by various segments of Nepal’s political spectrum, civil society, and media who have voiced concerns about China’s meddling in internal matters,” the report noted.

It emphasized that China’s initiatives to forge close ties between its military-industrial complex and Nepal’s defense needs, aiming to make Kathmandu reliant on it for military provisions, are likely to hit a roadblock.

Highlighting the political transition in Kathmandu, the report added, “Shah hails from the Madhesi region of Nepal, which shares deep cultural ties with India’s Bihar state, and he has spent significant time studying and living in India. This suggests a promising outlook for enhancing bilateral relations with India during his administration, which could further jeopardize China's interests.”