China’s Pole Position
China demonstrated the pole position it has come to occupy on the political track in Nepal with the President, the Vice President and the Chairman of the Unified CPN M Mr Prachanda in the country almost at the same time. The invitation to the President as Head of State was also complimented by that to Mr Prachanda symbolizing the importance that the Chinese wanted to give to the Party leadership as well. Moreover a strong contingent of former Maoist PLA leaders was on a visit to Nepal ostensibly during a period of leave by the UNMIN.
Meanwhile some see hope in Maoist decision to postpone extended plenum following party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s visit to China, which has reportedly asked the Maoists to improve their ties with India. There may therefore be a review by the Maoists of their anti India and pro nationalist stance, which may see negotiations with the Indian side and a visit by Mr Prachanda to New Delhi may also be forthcoming. That this is being done at the behest of China is evidence of the major political stakes that Beijing has now acquired in Kathmandu though the Maoists ironically were brought into the mainstream by India. That the Maoist now want to have a grand bargain with tripartite contacts would be welcome, but India would certainly insist on keeping China out of any bilateral negotiations though how far it can succeed remains to be seen.
NOV 2010
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