China Exerting Pressure on Nepal to Join Jinping’s GSI and GCI
14th Jun 2023
National Assembly Chairman Ganesh Prasad Timilsina (left) meets Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China.
China is once again exerting pressure on Nepal to align itself with President Xi Jinping’s Global Security Initiative (GSI) and Global Civilization Initiative (GCI).
During a meeting with National Assembly chair Ganesh Prasad Timilsina on Tuesday, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People’s Congress, Zhao Leji, expressed gratitude for Nepal’s active response and support for the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and welcomed its participation in the GSI and GCI.
The talks between Timilsina and Zhao took place on Monday evening at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
China had unveiled the concept paper for the Global Security Initiative (GSI), a new security architecture floated by China on February 21. While Chinese leaders have persistently sought Nepal’s support for the GSI, Nepali leaders, officials, and diplomats have consistently declined the proposal due to Nepal’s foreign policy, which prohibits joining any security or military alliances.
Over the past decade, Chinese President Xi Jinping has introduced a series of initiatives, including the Belt and Road (BRI) in 2013, the Global Development Initiative (GDI) in 2021, the GSI in 2022, and the GCI in 2023. He has urged the global community to participate in these concepts.
Nepal signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the BRI framework agreement in May 2017. However, no BRI projects have commenced in Nepal to date. Although China claimed that the international airport in Pokhara is a BRI project, it was constructed using Nepal’s own funds, with the country having borrowed from a Chinese bank to finance the airport.
Regarding the GDI, Nepal is already a participant. Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba agreed to a Chinese request during the official visit to Kathmandu in March 2022 by the then Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
The Global Civilization Index (GCI), as defined by the Chinese government, is regarded as an augmentation of the fundamental values of civilization that emanate from the notion of a global community with a collective destiny for humanity. This index is perceived to embody the most recent accomplishments of various civilizations worldwide and serves as a tangible manifestation of China’s wisdom for the betterment of the global community.
According to China, the GCI initiative aims to enhance civilizational values alongside humanity.
However, these developments have raised concerns among experts. They argue that the United States has established an “Asian NATO” known as the quad, which includes India, Japan, and Australia, with the purpose of encircling China. In response, the Chinese President had launched the Global Security Initiative (GSI), often referred to as China’s NATO.
China is seeking Nepal’s participation in this endeavor, though Nepal has yet to provide a response.
Regarding our stance on the Global Security Initiative (GSI), we maintain a clear position. As for the Global Civilization Index (GCI), we have not yet been approached by the authorities in Beijing through any official channels. A senior official from our foreign ministry expressed that although we possess knowledge about the GCI, we have not yet received any formal invitation or request to partake in it.
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China issues GSI strategy; Support was also sought from Nepal
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