– By Jagannath Kafle
The sovereignty of any country is neither big nor small. The bread-and-butter relationship of Nepal has been established from one to the end of any corner of the earth. Generally, Nepal and Nepalese are not barred from establishing family, diplomatic, and business relations with the citizens of any country. One-sighted foreign policy regardless of the neighbouring geopolitics of a country cannot be sustainable.
The existing foreign policy, geographic, demographic, economic, socio-economic, political, and geopolitical situation of the neighbouring countries also must be examined and taken into account for a mature foreign policy. Diplomatic skills, ethics, fairness, and integrity are the backbone of the foreign policy of a country. Nepal has been maintaining a long history and privileges with its closest neighbour countries India and China.
In today’s 21st century, communication has made the world look like one village. In the Terai region, the cultural harmony of India is predominant with Sanatani Vaidic culture, while in the Himalayan region, Tibetan cultural harmony has existed and Bon-Buddhist culture is predominant. Due to the geographical rigidity, the relationship between the north seems to have a little bit weak. In today’s scientific age, the geographical boundary does not hinder foreign relations, even though geography matters.
Before the Rana period, there was a balanced relationship between the North and South. It will be vital and commendable for us to re-establish a balanced relationship with our two geographically closest neighbour countries. In closer neighbourly relations, Nepal must not use any strategyto its neighbours as a tool for bargaining with another country neither India nor China. Used as a weapon of one-sidedness or bargaining tools, it harms Nepal, India, and China ultimately. The appropriateness for the two neighbours is to maintain a seriously balanced, warm and reciprocal relationship with both neighbours. Otherwise, the result will be fundamentally counter-productive to Nepal’s independence and sovereignty in the long run. Another important part is not to compare the relationship between Nepal and India or between Nepal and China.
At present, there are an open border and complementary security forces on the border and many information mechanisms are set up directly or indirectly between Nepal and India. Bilateral relations between Nepal and China have not been established with such a strong information mechanism and security forces. In recent times, the relationship between Nepal and China has been moving forward from a new height. In this context, Nepal needs to develop a high-level mechanism and use its diplomatic skills as soon as possible to maintain a balanced relationship with India and China.
Nepal must establish itself in practice as a completely independent and sovereign country, reducing the burden of the existing political dependence whether on India or China. For the sustainable neighbourhood relation, I would like to propose a two-phase model for Nepal, India and China. One is the Nepal-India-China Equality Model (NICE Model), which strengthens diplomatic relations and, another is the Nepal-India-China Economic Development model (NICED model) for taking care of the economic prosperities of these closest neighbouring countries.
NICE (Nepal-India-China Equity) Model
Since Nepal, India and China are geographically compelled to coexist, that is not possible to change neighbouring countries. The wisest task is to develop most stronger egalitarian “brotherhood” relationship with each other. Just as the United Nations has an egalitarian existence, the three nations must have an egalitarian existence in practice.
Diplomatic officials from all three countries should be brought regularly to the same table (a NICE talk) for establishing common equitable diplomatic relations. At least a month or any scheduled basis should be made special and indispensable relationship for appropriate and potential future arrangements. Establishing the relationship in such way should be developed, expanded and upgraded promptly so that a “NICE model” creates a “win-win” opportunity for tripartite equality.
Diplomatic relation complements each other and must be pursued together to stop the unnecessary presence of third countries. In the same way, we should be questioned along with the neighbouring countries in favour of multi-disciplinary development including political, economic, defence, peace, immigration, security, social, environmental, trade, cross-border mobility, and technical matters.
Nepal needs to play a leading role as a bridge to expand warm equitable relations with its immediate neighbours. From the lens of Nepal, India and China may not be so important to think about Nepal but Nepal must and even the must for India and China equally. When a small neighbouring country is under threats between the two great powers, it is certain that the two countries will face various risks and will not get a good message in the international arena.
Weak nations are always at risk of being harmed by external forces. If the country situates in the centre of two powerful nations and suffers from backwardness, it will harm the neighbouring countries. Therefore, equitable diplomatic relations should be established between the neighbouring countries in every field as a NICE model.
NICED (Nepal-India-China Economic Development) Model
As Nepal, India and China co-exist geographically, the neighbouring countries cannot be changed under any circumstances. It is wise to develop a common economic framework of collective efforts for economic prosperity. That is the NICED model and brings it to a “win-win” situation by developing, expanding and upgrading the economic affairs regarding infrastructure development, financial market development, tourism development, technological development, product market development, and human resource (labour market) development.
The model should target the free movement of goods and services as well as skills, technology, and capital(STC) easy transfer. Nepal should first coordinate by seeking economic opportunities for connecting tripartite fuses. When a small neighbour between the two major economic powers is in the shadow, the two countries will face unexpected and unwanted circumstances. In addition, external third-party forces could pose a threat to both neighbouring countries through bad economic deeds. If a small country between two rich countries suffers from scarcity and poverty, the negative effects will spill into the neighbouring countries. For the first phase, Nepal can move forward through three aspects.
First aspect : developing transport networks like railways, airways, electric cable ways and express ways, the three neighbouring countries can develop a common market by establishing proper economic relations. Developing appropriate technology and building a huge infrastructure between India-China through Nepal eases the opening of cross-border trade links. Developing and expanding industrial and trade relations for making Nepal as strong as both countries will be beneficial for all three countries. Necessary assistance can be taken from these neighbouring countries for the qualitative development of entrepreneurship campaigns in Nepal.
Second aspect: Targeting the three billion population, the promotion of trilateral tourism is another important economic strategy for this tripartite relationship. Nepal has not been able to attract a large number of tourists as Hindu or Vaidik pilgrims from India to Janakpur, Pashupatinath, Muktinath and many more pilgrimage sites and the Bouddanath, Swoyambhu, Lumbini,and many more pilgrimage sites for Buddhists pilgrimages from China. Nepal can develop the country as a business conference centre, a refreshing holiday destination, and a recreational tourist destination by building suitable infrastructures and tourism spots. The warm religious relations between the three countries and developing proper routes of Lhasa-Kathmandu, Lumbini-Gaya, Ayodhya-Janakpur, and Kashi-Pashupatinath-Muktinath-Kailash tourism networks will not take long to create huge economic opportunities between neighbours.
Third Aspect: Nepal must work out economic and diplomatic relations between three countries regarding developing straight transit routes between Nepal and marine links. Nepal cannot be prosperous without building fast-track connections or direct railways with sea or third countries pass with maintaining special relations with neighbours.
If we can establish and practice the NICE and NICED model, all three partner countries can enjoy multiple benefits. Maintaining peace and security in the Himalayan regions, any old and impractical treaties or agreementsare always subject to review in a certain time frame. The old treaty agreements are made for the contemporary situation. Things may have changed a lot over time and may be impractical now. Practicality and sovereign equality must be taken into account for regular NICE table talks with the help of foreign policy and diplomatic experts.
All countries have their diplomatic border lines besides the geographical border lines. Under normal circumstances, it is always counter-productive to seek the help of another country in the name of economic, social, political, administrative or any other matter of one’s own country. Asking for help always means giving confidential information about one’s own country and having the opportunity to hit or manipulate the weakness of one’s own country ; then finally, creating instability within the country. Such situations should always be stopped and our stand should be maintained.
We must be always sincere to prevent bad deeds and activities that may endanger the peace, security and secrecy of the neighbouring country and its citizens. If any other third country is seen to be using its own country (Nepal) to the detriment of any neighbouring country , then zero tolerance should be adopted. Let a true Nepali proudly say to the foreign community, “If there is any wrong interest; instead of joining hands with Nepal and Nepalese, we are ready to starve but we will not lay under your feet” by practising the NICE and NICED model.
The presence of a third country in between the immediate neighbouring countries is always fatal for a harmonious relationship between them. Every country exercises diplomatic practices only for the benefit of its own, while a third country does the same practices for its benefit whatever consequences occur to the first and second immediate neighbouring countries. The responsibilities of maintaining respectful and peaceful relations between immediate neighbours are the same countries that have cross-border connections to each other. The situation is more serious if the case of super powers.
Due to the tension, conflict, and war between the two countries, who will be the first victim? Who will be destroyed first? The straight answer is the domestic residents and immediate neighbours. Again, who will take the benefits ? Who will win the final game? The straight answer is the third country. If we take the recent case of the Russia-Ukraine war, the most victims and sufferings are in Ukraine, Russia, and immediate neighbour countries; even the whole of Europe is suffering from an energy crisis, inflation, and other by-product negative consequences and threats. And, the benefits went to the weapons and energy suppliers from far. If we look back to history, we will find lots of cases of such evidence.
Let us commit to No the promotion weapon industry of a third country ! Talk and tackle, no destroying war ! No door opens for a divider and ruler from distance ! No business for weapons and bombs ! Why are the power nations eager to win the war with destruction and why not with construction ? Why the power country invests in war and why they do not invest in peace ? The straight answer is weapon trade, domination, split, and rule, we NICE partners must be aware. So, the immediate neighbouring countries Nepal, India, and China must be seriously committed to applying the NICE model for regional protection, peace and prosperity without delay . More seriously, NICE partners must reflect their devotion to regional development and prosperity, regional peace and security, migration and mobility, market and shared value, stability and dignity.
Doctoral Researcher, Economic Geography,
Turku School of Economics, University of Turku, Finland
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