Nepalese political leaders, both from the government and opposition, implore Prime Minister Oli to shed light on rumors concerning a Chinese agreement regarding the GSI (Giant Structural Steel Industries) project.
In recent months, there has been a flurry of activity surrounding China's Global Security Initiative (GSI), a security framework proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in April 2022. The initiative aims to promote a new model of international security based on mutual respect, cooperation, and non-confrontation.
However, Nepal's stance on the GSI has remained unclear, with conflicting reports emerging from various sources. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Nepal has expressed support for the GSI, along with the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the Global Civilisation Initiative (GCI) proposed by China.
Yet, Nepal has consistently rejected the GSI, stating it contradicts the country's non-aligned foreign policy. This stance was reiterated by Prakash Jwala, a lawmaker from the CPN-US and a former Minister, who has demanded the government's clarification over the claims of Nepal supporting the GSI, GDI, and GCI proposed by China.
Several other senior Chinese officials, including Wang Yi and Liu Jianchao, have brought up the GSI in discussions with Nepali counterparts. There have been multiple instances of China pushing the GSI during bilateral visits and meetings.
One such instance occurred on 12 June 2023, during a visit to China, when Nepal's then-National Assembly Chair Ganesh Timilsina was again approached with the proposal by Zhao Leji, chairman of the standing committee of China's National People's Congress. However, the official position of the government of Nepal on supporting the GSI has not been explicitly stated or publicly disclosed in the available search results up to the current date.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry claimed that PM KP Sharma Oli expressed support for China's GSI during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. However, the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing did not mention any support for the GSI in its statement about the meeting between Prime Minister Oli and President Xi. The meeting took place in Tianjin, China, on the sidelines of the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit and the "SCO Plus" gathering.
The lack of clarity on Nepal's position on the GSI has sparked concerns among Nepali lawmakers. The Nepali lawmakers, including Dilendra Prasad Badu from the Nepali Congress and Prakash Jwala from the CPN-US, have urged Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to clarify on the agreement on China's Global Security Initiative (GSI).
The issue of China's unilateral claims and the potential risks associated with the GSI have also been raised by Jwala, who considers Nepal's potential support for the GSI as potentially putting the country in a "security trap" of powerful countries, which he considers suicidal and self-defeating.
The controversy surrounding the GSI and Nepal's position on it continues to unfold, with both the Chinese and Nepalese governments yet to provide a clear and definitive statement on the matter. The issue remains a topic of interest and debate among Nepalese lawmakers and the general public.
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