World Desk, AnyTV, Kathmandu
Published by: Harendra Chaudhary
Updated Sat, 26 Feb 2022 03:45 PM IST
Summary
The Nepal government had signed an agreement in 2017 to get financial assistance of $ 500 million from MCC. But due to heavy opposition to its terms in Nepal, the proposal for approval of that agreement has not yet been passed in the Nepalese Parliament. Now the MCC has fixed February 28 as the deadline to complete the process of parliamentary approval.
After the US ambassador in Kathmandu spoke to leader of the main opposition Communist Party of Nepal (UML) KP Sharma Oli, Oli was called on the same day by Song Tao, Minister of International Public Relations Department of the Communist Party of China. The issue in both these talks was the ongoing standoff in Nepal over accepting financial aid from the American organization Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
Song had called former Prime Minister Oli on Wednesday. But the news about this came on Thursday. Chinese news agency Xinhua said Song and Oli discussed the possibility of enhancing cooperation between China and Nepal in various fields. During this, Song said that China will always support the people of Nepal for ‘taking an independent path of development’. This comment is considered important.
The agreement was signed in 2017
The Nepal government had signed an agreement in 2017 to get financial assistance of $ 500 million from MCC. But due to heavy opposition to its terms in Nepal, the proposal for approval of that agreement has not yet been passed in the Nepalese Parliament. Now the MCC has set February 28 as the deadline to complete the process of parliamentary approval. Meanwhile, Nepal has been given an open warning by the US that if it does not accept the help, then America will reconsider its bilateral relations with it.
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s government has tabled the approval motion in Parliament. But two communist parties in the ruling coalition led by the Nepali Congress have made it clear that they will vote against it. He says the MCC agreement is part of an ongoing race between the US and China to increase their influence in the Asia-Pacific region. Nepal should stay away from this race.
Due to this stand of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialists), all the attention has been focused on the UML. Prime Minister Deuba has spoken to Oli several times in an attempt to get the support of the UML. Meanwhile, representatives of America and China have also spoken to him.
China criticized US policy
According to the UML statement, during the conversation with the Chinese minister, Oli said that the UML attaches great importance to its talks with the Communist Party of China. These parties support each other’s interests and their major concerns.
China’s Foreign Ministry also issued a statement on Wednesday. It criticized America’s ‘coercive diplomacy’ in Nepal. Prior to that on February 18, China had criticized the pressure being put on by the US to ratify the MCC agreement.
Observers say that the increased pressure on Nepalese leaders from China and the US on the issue of MCC help has created a big problem for the Nepal government. It is apprehensive that whatever the fate of the resolution in Parliament, it will have to face the wrath of one big power or the other.
Expansion
After the US ambassador in Kathmandu spoke to leader of the main opposition Communist Party of Nepal (UML) KP Sharma Oli, Oli was called on the same day by Song Tao, Minister of International Public Relations Department of the Communist Party of China. The issue in both these talks was the ongoing standoff in Nepal over accepting financial aid from the American organization Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
Song had called former Prime Minister Oli on Wednesday. But the news about this came on Thursday. Chinese news agency Xinhua said Song and Oli discussed the possibility of enhancing cooperation between China and Nepal in various fields. During this, Song said that China will always support the people of Nepal for ‘taking an independent path of development’. This comment is considered important.
The agreement was signed in 2017
The Nepal government had signed an agreement in 2017 to get financial assistance of $ 500 million from MCC. But due to heavy opposition to its terms in Nepal, the proposal for approval of that agreement has not yet been passed in the Nepalese Parliament. Now the MCC has set February 28 as the deadline to complete the process of parliamentary approval. Meanwhile, Nepal has been given an open warning by the US that if it does not accept the help, then America will reconsider its bilateral relations with it.
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s government has tabled the approval motion in Parliament. But two communist parties in the ruling coalition led by the Nepali Congress have made it clear that they will vote against it. He says the MCC agreement is part of an ongoing race between the US and China to increase their influence in the Asia-Pacific region. Nepal should stay away from this race.
Due to this stand of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialists), all the attention has been focused on the UML. Prime Minister Deuba has spoken to Oli several times in an attempt to get the support of the UML. Meanwhile, representatives of America and China have also spoken to him.
China criticized US policy
According to the UML statement, during the conversation with the Chinese minister, Oli said that the UML attaches great importance to its talks with the Communist Party of China. These parties support each other’s interests and their major concerns.
China’s Foreign Ministry also issued a statement on Wednesday. It criticized America’s ‘coercive diplomacy’ in Nepal. Prior to that on February 18, China had criticized the pressure being put on by the US to ratify the MCC agreement.
Observers say that the increased pressure on Nepalese leaders from China and the US on the issue of MCC help has created a big problem for the Nepal government. It is apprehensive that whatever the fate of the resolution in Parliament, it will have to face the wrath of one big power or the other.