Joint Statement by Nepal and China Raises Concerns Over Tibet and Deportations

A joint statement issued by Nepal and China following Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s visit to Beijing has raised concerns over Nepal’s stance on Tibet and the potential for deportations of Tibetans. The International Campaign for Tibet expressed worry that the joint statement institutionalizes China’s influence on Tibetan matters.

The statement asserts that Tibet affairs are China’s internal affairs and that Nepal will not allow any separatist activities against China on its soil, separating Tibet from Taiwan and the One China Principle. The joint statement also mentions the implementation of a boundary management agreement, potentially enabling Chinese authorities to deport Tibetans who have entered Nepal. Articles 26 and 27 of the agreement address “persons crossing the border illegally.”

The number of Tibetans escaping to Nepal has dwindled in recent years due to heightened security in border areas and China’s clampdown in Tibet. The joint statement also alludes to potential Chinese investments in Nepal, particularly from the Lhasa Economic and Technological Development Zone Investment Development Company. Prime Minister Dahal is scheduled to visit Tibet after the joint statement was issued.