The joint statement issued at the end of the recent three-day China visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unexpectedly emerged as matter of concern for Nepal. Point number 28 of the 41-point communiqué states that the two sides, India and China, "agreed to hold negotiations on augmenting the list of traded commodities, and expand border trade at ... Lipu-Lekh Pass." It took our foreign policy establishment by surprise because Lipu-Lekh has been recognized individually by India, China and Nepal as a "tri-junction" point between the three countries, and hence its nickname of "Tri-Corner". So for India and China to agree to expand trade through Lipu-Lekh at bilateral level, without any knowledge of Nepal, is troubling. It suggests either that the two countries are confident of getting Nepal's nod on the proposal, or more troublingly, they simply don't care what Nepal thinks. Whatever the underlying motive, this gesture will fuel suspicion that the two emerging global powers will not resist from trampling on the interests of Nepal if it serves their larger geostrategic and economic interests.
