Diplomatist Magazine Annual Edition 2018 | Page 51

Knowledge Partner Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist Image 23: Protestors clash with the police in Nepal in 2010 impar*ality and credibility. The hopes raised by the peace accord have dissipated. (equivalent to India's Border Security Force). China has also become a preferred educa*onal hub for Nepalese students with their numbers increasing each year. In all these years, poli*cal actors, especially the top leaders of the eight par*es that monopolised power together or in rota*onal leadership, have not owned responsibility for the current mess. Interna*onal players beginning with the UN have withdrawn quietly, or moved to the background, while India, the next door neighbour that stood accused of 'micromanaging' Nepal's affairs, is confronted by China at almost every step. China has established and intensified its coopera*on on an ins*tu*on-to-ins*tu*on basis with Nepal's army, civilian bureaucracy, and Armed Police Force KP Oli, who may take over as Nepal's prime minister within a couple of months following the victory of the Lej Alliance in the recently held general elec*ons, had signed trade and transit agreements with China during his last s*nt as prime minister two years ago. India fears that China will have a larger influence over Nepal, like in most other South Asian countries around India. Nepal has already signed up for China's Belt and Road Ini*a*ve (BRI) which has considerable strategic significance. 40