| Username |
Post |
| LamjungKunchha |
Posted
on 04-Jun-02 05:31 PM
Nepal News Reports:
Zhu, Koirala meet
Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji and president of the Nepali Congress party met in Beijing Monday and discussed bilateral ties, the party said.
Koirala, who is visiting China on the invitation of the Chinese Communist party, returns home Wednesday.
Koirala said he will act on the rift in the party after visiting districts on return from China.
My comments:
Is it just my cynical view regarding Koirala who is doing everything he can to oust PM Deuba that sees something mischevious here? Is China courting Koirala, once very vitriolic critic of communism and even china, to show their dissatisfaction to Deuba for his lack of attention when he gloriously visited India, UK and USA? Or it is just coincidence? I do hope it is just a coincidence not a deliberate choice by chinese policy makers, specially given the current political drama in NC. The invitation may have been extended a while ago but we all know Koirala will do anything to keep himself in power be it switching his views, sides and sell his soul to his own devil (read communists and china here) and China being involved with him will show a sign that China will also do anything to keep themselves involved in Nepalese politics, specially among growing US interest in Nepal.
Yes, Deuba has been little slow paying attention to China and ask for their help but I hope China did not feel snubbed while he hobnobed with India, UK and USA. I hope Deuba and his advisors, while may have been busy arranging the trip to the west, thought about this possible anger from china. If not, it may not be too late to reach out to them ask for help. We do need help from our northern neighbor to wipe out the terrorists. After all, our maoists brothers borrow their principles, however twisted it may be, from the "great helmsman" of China.
|
| Biswo |
Posted
on 05-Jun-02 11:32 AM
LKji:
I think you are over-extrapolating at this meeting. China has invited leaders of all
major political parties in the past, and Girija-Zhu visit is continuation of that. I don't
support Girija but I am glad that China respects all Nepali leaders, because, in
my opinion, respect of a Nepali leader is respect of Nepali population also.Zhu is
a very popular guy. It is very interesting, because Mr Zhu is elected by a coterie
of communist leaders to premiership, yet he is very popular among Chinese
population, and like a democrat leader, he is scheduled to step down from his
post in 2003. Contrast this to our good old Girija, he was elected by Nepali people,
but is rarely a popular guy, and , like a dictator of North Korea or Cuba, he doesn't
even think of retiring.
|
| LamjungKunchha |
Posted
on 05-Jun-02 01:20 PM
Biswoji,
I agree with your assesment regarding Zhu. He is a very pragmatic leader. Zhu, although not popularly elected, gets more respect from the people both in and outside of China than any other chinese leaders and which, I strongly beleive, he deserves. As a witness of his miraculous rescue of Chinese economy when it was extremely overheated circa 1993, I can only admire him.
But having said that, the geopolitical situation is changing. Russia is aligning itself with NATO. China is getting more and more desperate to build a coalition that can withstand the Amercan influence. This fact is apparent by its endeavor to bring few Former Soviet Union countries including Russia into SCO, which in my view just a milder form of Warsaw Pact. After its long time ally, Pakistan, whole heartedly supporting US and its war on Terrorism, China has no other strong ally in its south-western boarder. Nepal is strategically important to China should it want to enhance its influence in our reason and keep Tibetan Freedom issue at bay for a while. Recently, America is increasing its influence in Nepal by giving more aid to curb the insurgency and its military personnels are making trips to the remote part of Nepal.The situation gets even more interesting if you consider the change in the throne of Nepal. China was very comfortable with King Birendra and his father Mahendra. Yes, Mahendra was forced to ally china after 2017. After that, Chinese were able to build their relation with Birendra. He traveled china several times before he became King. Even Dipendra travelled few times. But King Gyanendra is not very familiar figure to chinese. Specially given these circumstances and the invitation to Koirala despite his "what used to be long term" India support and staunt crticism of Communism in Nepal does not seem that coincidential while his party is going through a turmoil he created. By visiting China, Koirala can satisfy his ego and consolate himself for his disappointment on not being able to gain international support while china can show their disappointment to Deuba for not visiting china, not calling on them but travelling all over the world, letting to grow american influence in a land where they least suspected it would happen.
Until, this point I never saw any fear of having too much chinese influence. Growing chinese influence will have counter balanced to ever increasing Indian influence. This was before september 11 and November 23, whatever China was doing in Nepal then could have been seen less selfish, more genuine interest in Nepal and its people but not anymore, now it is more from necessity in their end.
I don't know my views in my previous posting can be seen as over-extrapolating and shrugged. I think Nepali policy maker should consider this view and take some measures before making china little worried
I better get back to work.
|
| Biswo |
Posted
on 05-Jun-02 02:26 PM
LKji:
Of course, China is not inviting these leaders for altruistic measures. But I don't
think Girija Zhu visit is any extraordinary. In fact, if I remember correctly, even
RPP head Surya Bahadur Thapa was invited to China to talk with premier Zhu. Girija
is also a head of NC, which is a sister party of Chinese Communist Party (like UML).
These facts make Girija's visit usual. China still supports Deuba and King
Gyanendra, I believe. They have this policy of supporting the offical government,
whoever they are.(except, of course, Taliban)
Anyway, it will be intersting to see how things goes. Your point is persuading,
but just that I think it is probably over-extrapolating.
|
| interesting timing |
Posted
on 06-Jun-02 12:00 AM
i find it interesting that zhu met with koirala rather than deuba at this particular time. while i agree with biswo to some extent, is it possible that this a warning shot by beijing across the bow of deuba? what signals are being sent here?
|
| Biswo |
Posted
on 06-Jun-02 12:46 AM
interestingtmingji,
May be seasoned China watchers can help us.My theory remains same, and I am
stating that again.
May be because we Nepali love to see conspiracy in every thing, we see something
more than what is deserved in this meeting. I think a lot of Nepali think that
extraordinary events have extraordinary plans behind it.We saw conspiracy
behind Madan Bhandari's death, we saw conspiracy behind Ganesh Man's chair
accident in Bharatpur airport, we saw conspiracy behind Girija's motor's accidental
hit by some menual workers in Sindhupalchok, we saw big conspiracy behind
Narayanhiti palace massacre, and we continue to think that way. We just can't
accept that accidents do happen, that simple reasons can exist behind big events.
I don't mean to impugn your analytic skill, but I think it is perfectly normal for a
primier of our neighboring nation to meet with a leader of ruling party(??) of our
nation. The invitation to Girija was definitely given long time ago, and such visits
to China are routine for leaders of all political parties of Nepal.
|
| kk |
Posted
on 06-Jun-02 06:41 AM
Koirala leaves for India directly from China trip
KATHMANDU, June 6 – Former PM and Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koiarala has left directly for New Delhi, India from Hong Kong on his return back home from his visit to China, party sources confirmed.
Though the reasons behind Koirala’s sudden change in plans remained unknown, the move has been taken to be significant on the brim of internal rivalry between PM Sher Bahadur Deuba and Koirala within the ruling party. Koirala was schedule to return directly to Kathmandu after completion of his visit to China. (sjs)
|
| LamjungKunchha |
Posted
on 06-Jun-02 10:00 AM
Biswoji,
I would have agreed with you had it been before September 11/November 22. Yes, inviting prominent people from different parties of Nepal is customary to China. It has been done before, it is all right to do now. I am also not suggesting there is consipiracy broiling against Deuba and his government in Chinese side (I cannot say that about GPK though:)). That would not be in self interest of China but considering the international circumstances, you cannot help but think if there is any subliminal message behind these so called friendly trips given the political condition of Nepal. There is a need to pay attention to the possible casue of this visit and during the euphoria of successful visit to India, US and UK, we should not ignore china. So far, Deuba and his advisors have ignored china although there was some talk of him visiting China but then it died down after few days.
|
