China Blocks Trading Points, Envoy Shows Stunt On The Road

Since China has been blocking Nepal-China border crossings for a long time, trade has been affected. However, instead of solving these problems, China’s ambassador Chen Song has come out to inspect the road. Song’s team went to inspect the Mugling-Pokhara road section which is being upgraded.

The Chinese government and companies have been receiving the contracts for various projects in Nepal. However, the Nepali side has been facing problem of not completing the construction on time. Similarly, the contractors are also disappearing without completing the projects. The Chinese side are receiving the contracts of building roads, hydropower, airports, and industrial areas.

The recent examples of the Chinese side delaying the work are Butwal-Narayangadh road and Mugling-Pokhara road. A long time has passed since the expansion and paving of these roads started. However, the work could not be completed on time due to the negligence of the Chinese contractor company.

The Pokhara section road inspected by Ambassador Song is the main road connecting the capital Kathmandu with Gandaki province. The road was divided into two parts and entrusted to two Chinese companies, China Communication Construction and Yanhui Kaiyuan Highway and Bridge Company.

Unannounced blockade

Ambassador Song showed a ‘stunt’ by going out to inspect the road. However, the place where he has to play a special role is the Nepal-China border. From the main Rasuwagadhi and Tatopani crossings to other China crossings in the country, there has been a blockage for a long time. The border use to be eased only at a time when the Chinese leader comes Nepal. Due to the undeclared blockade at the border, the trade between Nepal and China has been affected and Nepali businessmen have also been suffering huge losses. However, China, which calls itself a good neighbor of Nepal, has been ignoring such problems.

Humla, Mugu, Gorkha’s Larke, Sankhuwasabha’s Kimathanka, Taplejung’s Tiptala, etc., are not only a border but also a route connected with the daily life of the local people. However, China which is trying to identify itself as a good neighbor and friendly country is apathetic in facilitating these crossings, due to which the citizens of the border area have been badly affected for years.

For an example, the Nepal-China border crossing of Olangchungola rural municipality (Tiptala Bhanjyang) has been closed for four years. On 14 August 2022, the rural municipality had written correspondence to the district administration office demanding to open this border. Rural Municipality chairman Rajan Limbu wrote a letter and requested the administration office for facilitation.

It is mentioned in the letter that after the closure of the border, there was a problem in livelihood due to the local economic crisis, the situation of settlement relocation was created, and the prices increased extremely. Rural Municipality Chairman, Limbu said that the main source of income for the residents of Olangchungola, Yangma, Ghunsa, and Fale was exporting herbs, carpets, and animals but this has been stopped for long due to China’s undeclared blockade.

According to the data of the customs department, exports from Nepal have been stopped at the Nepal-China border for the past few years. Especially herbs, handicraft materials, and food items were exported to China. However, after China closed the border showing the reason of the earthquake and corona pandemic, the export was also stopped.

According to the department, currently, Kerung of Rasuwa in the Northern Region and Tatopani checkpoint at Sindhupalchowk are only in operation. Even at these points, imports were at a standstill until August . China has not yet opened the movement of people.

The Head of the Tatopani Customs Office, Dayananda KC, told epardafas that import and export are still not easy at the checkpoint.

The condition of two major checkpoints Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi is still miserable. Outgoing President of Sindhupalchowk Chamber of Commerce and Industries Bed Bahadur Shrestha said that Tatopani area, which was once buzzing, became deserted after the earthquake, and businessmen had to flee from there. After all the businesses there stopped the businessmen started to flee. Not only big businessmen, but also small businesses, drivers, load unloaders became unemployed, he said.

It has been seven years since the Nepal-China border has been affected. Though many times many Chinese leaders have assured for opening the transit points on the Nepal-China border, the results are not seen as per their commitment. The then-head of the International Department of Chinese Communist Party Central Committee Song Tao,Chinese President Xi Jinping, the then vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC,Guo Yezhou , Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe, then head of the foreign affairs department of the CPC, Liu, Chinese People’s Congress leader Li Zhanshu made a visit to Nepal one after another.  However, the problem has not been solved.