Dragon’s embrace: China’s expanding footprint in Nepal triggers local displeasure

News Snapshot:

Nepal-China relations, a relatively recent development, have grown economically since 2015. In 2016, Nepal called China an “all-weather friend” and became a signatory of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) the following year. Chinese influence on Nepal has gained momentum since 2018, with Beijing having a significant role in forming the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) and its subsequent impact on the NCP government. China’s influence in Nepal’s economy reached new traction as it quickly became the largest source of foreign direct investment and ousted New Delhi as Kathmandu’s largest investor because of the infrastructural projects undertaken under the BRI. One...