By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS
Kathmandu : A bounty of 50 million Chinese yuan (over $6.5 million) and promises of more have procured for China fresh diplomatic support from Nepal, with the communist-majority Nepal government stating that it was opposed to Taiwan's bid to join the UN.
Nepal's official media Saturday carried a statement issued by its foreign affairs ministry saying Nepal "firmly opposes attempts by the Taiwan authorities to push for joining the UN under the name Taiwan".
Nepal is also opposing Taiwan's decision to hold a referendum on joining the UN to bolster its application.
"Such attempts by Taiwan under any name or by any means would only lead towards destabilisation in the region," Nepal's foreign affairs ministry said.
"Nepal believes that peace and stability must be maintained in the Taiwan straits to contribute to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and international community at large."
After King Gyanendra ascended the throne in 2001 and began vying for an active part in the government, exceeding the role given to him by the constitution, the government, under his influence, began asserting public support for Beijing's 'One China' policy.
The policy claims that annexed Tibet and Taiwan are integral and inalienable parts of the communist republic.
Days before the king seized power with an army-backed bloodless coup, the government shut down the office of the representative of exiled Tibetan leader Dalai Lama in Kathmandu.
Since then, even after the restoration of democracy and the opposition parties coming to power in 2006, the new Nepal government has refused to let the office re-open or register as an NGO.
After the king declared himself head of the government, though the move was condemned by the international community, China supported the regime, calling the coup an internal matter of Nepal. It also supplied arms to the royal government though Nepal's other arms donors suspended lethal supplies in protest.
In return for the support, the then royal government issued a public statement, expressing support for the One China policy.
The fresh support now comes after a 12-member Chinese team visited Nepal this week and signed an agreement worth RMB 50 million.
Headed by Assistant Commerce Minister Wang Chao, the Chinese team said the assistance was meant to build the Syafrubeshi-Rasuagari road in northern Nepal and to provide logistic support to the crucial election, to be held on Nov 22.
China has also reportedly shown interest in extending a line of credit worth Nepali Rs. 8 billion to build a 61 MW hydropower project.
Nepal has requested the visiting delegation to increase Chinese aid for building infrastructure in Nepal and give duty-free access to over 400 Nepali trade items.
Scenting an opportunity in China's doubled bid to win over the new Nepal government after its controversial support to King Gyanendra, Nepal also asked the minister to modify an aircraft sale contract which is causing Nepal a huge loss.
King Gyanendra's regime had ordered two aircraft at inflated prices from China, a deal that is both embarrassing and loss-making for the cash-strapped new government.
Earlier, though the eight-party government asked China to cancel the deal, Beijing opposed it firmly. Now Nepal is asking China to reconsider the deal and sell one aircraft instead of two.
Nepal's media this week said China had reacted positively to the request.