Lipulekh row reignites after New Delhi-Beijing meet

This week, India and China met in New Delhi after a period of strained relations stemming from their economic rivalry, the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, and the trade war launched by US President Donald Trump against both countries. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited India for the 24th round of the Special Representatives’ dialogue on the boundary on August 19.

As part of several arrangements, New Delhi and Beijing agreed to reopen several trade routes, including the Lipulekh Pass, a strategic trijunction route via Nepal that connects its two Himalayan neighbouring giants.

“Both sides agreed to the re-opening of border trade through the three designated trading points, namely Lipulekh Pass, Shipki La Pass and Nathu La Pass,” says the press release from India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). China has also released a corresponding statement.

On Wednesday, Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) released a response titled, “The Foreign Ministry spokesperson’s response regarding questions raised by the media on India-China border trade through Nepali territory via Lipulekh.”

It maintained that Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani, east of the Mahakali River, are integral parts of Nepali territory, as recognised in its constitution and official map and that the country has repeatedly urged India to refrain from infrastructure or trade activities in the disputed area and has also communicated its position to China.

It further stated that Nepal reaffirms its commitment to peaceful diplomacy and seeks a resolution to the border dispute with India based on historical treaties, evidence, and mutual respect.

India responded on Wednesday clearly rejecting Nepal’s claims and reiterating that trade through the route had existed for decades since 1954. 

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, said Nepal’s claims were “a unilateral artificial enlargement of territorial claims”, “untenable”, and “neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence.” He further said India remains open to “constructive interaction” on the agreed outstanding boundary issues.

Nepal, on the other hand, has consistently voiced its disapproval concerning the Lipulekh region. In 2015, Nepal lodged a formal protest after India and China unilaterally decided to use the pass for bilateral trade. In May 2020, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a road infrastructure in the region. Nepal made objections then, too.

The latest rift comes in the wake of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s scheduled visit to Tianjin, China, in August to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, where PM Modi will also be attending.

PM Oli will then be making an official visit to India on September 16. Pressure will now mount on him to bring up the issue diplomatically during the visit. It was under his prime ministership in 2020 when Nepal introduced a new political map, which included the disputed territories.

The move came in response to India’s release of its new political map in 2019 that included these regions within its territory, prompting strong reactions from Kathmandu. Relations soured between the two countries afterwards, mainly between New Delhi and Oli.

Meanwhile, lawmakers in the House of Representatives have expressed concerns and disapproval of the bilateral dealing between India and China. Pressing for a trilateral agreement between Nepal, India and China, lawmakers urge the prime minister to put the issue on the table during his visit. Nepali Congress lawmaker Gagan Thapa called for national unity and urged political parties to refrain from politicising the issue for petty political interests.

Earlier this month, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri arrived in Kathmandu for a two-day official visit on August 17 at the invitation of his Nepali counterpart. One of the objectives of the visit was to establish agendas for the PM Oli’s upcoming state visit and discuss areas of cooperation.

During the visit, Misri met high-level dignitaries and politicians, including President Ram Chandra Paudel, Prime Minister Oli, and Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba.

He also met Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Vice President of Rastriya Swatantra Party Swarnim Wagle, and leaders of the Madhes-based parties, among others.

The Madhes-based party chairs included Mahantha Thakur of Loktantrik Samajbadi Party Nepal, Upendra Yadav of Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal, Hridyesh Tripathi of Janata Pragatisheel Party, Rajendra Mahato of Rastriya Mukti Kranti Party Nepal, and Brishesh Chandra Lal of Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party.