MPs Urge Against Making Nepal a Pawn Between India and China
Some MPs Advocate for China's BRI to be Added to Parliament’s Agenda
Similar to the US's MCC, some MPs are calling for China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project to be discussed in Parliament.
On Thursday, lawmakers debated Nepal’s plan to implement the Chinese BRI during a session of the House of Representatives. This discussion took place shortly after China's Vice Foreign Minister, Sun Weidong, concluded his three-day visit to Kathmandu, where he participated in the 16th round of Nepal-China diplomatic consultations.
While lawmakers from the main opposition party voiced their opinions on the BRI, those from the ruling CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre) did not discuss the government's preparations for implementing the BRI during Sun's visit. Nepal joined the BRI, a flagship connectivity project of Chinese President Xi Jinping, in May 2017.
Primarily, members of the Nepali Congress questioned the government, urging it to present the BRI framework agreement to Parliament and initiate a national discussion on its implementation. They also called for a broad consensus on the matter.
Several lawmakers demanded clarity from the government regarding Nepal’s stance on both the Chinese BRI and the US Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Nepal Compact.
Former Foreign Minister and Nepali Congress leader NP Saud, speaking in the House on Thursday, insisted that the government should clarify its position on the BRI’s implementation. "We cannot afford loans to build projects under the BRI," he stated.
Saud also criticized the current government's foreign policy and urged Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal not to "ignite the dynamite" between India and China. He cautioned that playing both sides could damage Nepal's credibility with its neighbors and the international community.
Saud emphasized the need for a common stance on Nepal’s foreign policy and urged the prime minister to secure the confidence of the House and seek national consensus.
Prime Minister Dahal recently stated that the government prefers grants over loans for executing BRI projects. If loans are necessary, the government would seek rates comparable to those from the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.
Rajendra Bajgain, another Nepali Congress lawmaker, called for transparency regarding the BRI framework agreements and insisted that Parliament should discuss the BRI, similar to the MCC, which was approved after extensive deliberation.
Chitra Bahadur KC of Rastriya Janamorcha argued that fears of Nepal falling into a debt trap under the BRI were unfounded and criticized the opposition to the BRI as an attempt to bolster the MCC.
Shanti BK of the Nepali Congress cautioned about Nepal’s high public debt and the risks of borrowing under the BRI. She highlighted the need to consider the experiences of countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Gambia when taking on new loans.