| China–Nepal border 中国－尼泊尔边界 नेपाल-चीन सिमाना | |
|---|---|
| Characteristics | |
| Entities |  China Nepal |
| Length | 1,389 km (863 mi) |
| History | |
| Established | 1956 China–Nepal Agreement |
| Current shape | 28 April 1960 Sino-Nepalese Treaty of Peace and Friendship |
| Treaties |
|
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TheChina–Nepal border is theinternational boundary between theTibet Autonomous Region of thePeople's Republic of China andFederal Democratic Republic of Nepal. It is 1,389 kilometres (863 mi) in length and runs in a northwest–southeast direction along theHimalayan mountain range, includingMount Everest, the world's highest mountain.[1] The boundaries of this particular border have changed dramatically over time, especially when considering relatively recent events such as theAnnexation of Tibet in 1949. However, some of the most significant developments of modern times would be the signing of the "Agreement on Maintaining Friendly Relations between the People’s Republic of China and the Kingdom of Nepal" in 1956 and the "Sino-Nepalese Treaty of Peace and Friendship" in 1960, both of which formally recognised Tibet as a part of China and confirmed the limits of the countries of China and Nepal as they are known today.[2][3]
The border starts in the west at the western tripoint withIndia near theTinkar Pass inSudurpashchim Province.[4] It then proceeds south-east to the Urai Pass and then north-east, briefly utilising theKarnali River, before turning to the south-east at the Lapche Pass. It then proceeds in that general direction over various mountains crests in the Himalayan range, including Mount Everest, MountMakalu and MountSalasungo, as passes such as the Manja, Thau, Marima, Pindu, Gyala, Lajing and Popti Passes.[5] It terminates at the eastern tripoint with India onJongsong Peak.[5]
The border region has historically existed at the edges of various Nepali, Indian and Tibetan kingdoms.[5] Cross-border trade between Nepalis and Tibetans has existed for centuries, for example inwool,tea,spices andsalt.[6][7] Though various Nepali-Tibetan treaties were signed in the 18th-19th centuries, these concerned the ownership of often vaguely-defined territories rather than with delimiting a precise boundary.[5]
In 1950–51, thePeople's Republic of China annexed Tibet, and thereby inherited the somewhat confused situation along the boundary.[8] On 21 March 1960 a border treaty was signed which recognised the "traditional customary line" and created a joint boundary commission to delimit a more precise border.[5] Having completed their work, a final boundary treaty was signed on 5 October 1961.[5] The border was then demarcated on the ground with pillars, and a final protocol signed on 23 January 1963.[5]
The government of Nepal tends to deny or downplay any territorial disputes with China for fear of losing economic favors.[9] In 2021, the Nepali government documented border infringements by China by subsequently censored the report.[9]
The western China–Nepal–India tripoint is disputed between Nepal and India since 1990s as part ofKalapani territory. In 2015, the Nepalese parliament objected to the agreement between India and China to trade throughLipulekh stating that 'it violates Nepal's sovereign rights over the disputed territory'.[10] After Indian prime ministerNarendra Modi's visit to China in 2015, India and China agreed to open a trading post in Lipulekh, raising objections from Nepal.[11][12]
In November 2020, Nepali politicians claimed China had annexed more than 150 hectares of Nepalese land.[13] The Nepali government in September 2021 formed a team under Home Ministry Joint Secretary Jaya Narayan Acharya to study dispute inLimi ofNamkha Rural Municipality ofHumla.[14] The committee comprised Deputy Director General of the Survey Department Sushil Dangol, Senior Superintendent of Nepal Police Umesh Raj Joshi, Senior Superintendent of Armed Police Force Pradip Kumar Pal, Joint Director of National Investigation Department Kishor Kumar Shrestha and Home Ministry Secretary Acharya. This team submitted its report on 26 September which brought the conclusion of claim being truth. It suggested making a joint force for dispute resolution.[15]
In addition, NCKarnali Provincial Assembly party and former ministerJeevan Bahadur Shahi lead team had submitted report on same asking to bring back Nepalese land.[16][17][18] This matter was raised and supported byNC vice-president and formerHome ministerBimalendra Nidhi who was Deputy Prime minister inSecond Dahal cabinet.[19][20]
In early 2022, a Nepali government report was leaked. The report indicated the previously alleged buildings were on Chinese side, but found that China has built fences, a canal, and a road that encroached on Nepali soil.[21]
In 2012, Nepal and China agreed to open newports of entry, to a total of six official ports. Three of the ports are designated as international ports, while three others are only designated for bilateral trade.[22]
The border crossing betweenZhangmu andKodari on theFriendship Highway has been in operation since 1968.[citation needed] In 2014, the border crossing atRasuwa Fort (Rasuwagadhi) was opened for commerce and then for foreign nationals from 2017.[6][23] In addition, this border crossing is being considered for a future rail crossing between the two countries.[24]
Other crossings, like the one atBurang-Hilsa near the western tripoint, while not widely accessible have been used for local trade between China and Nepal for many years.[25] Some of those crossings have become so important for local trade that in 2008, when Chinese tightened its border control during theOlympics, villages likeKimathanka faced food shortages due to disruption of local trade.[26]Korala, the latest border crossing to open, started operations in 2023.[27][28]
Historical maps of the border from west to east in theInternational Map of the World and Operational Navigation Chart, middle/late 20th century:
The Daily Telegraph: Nepalese politicians have said that Chinese soldiers annexed more than 150 hectares of land in five areas near the border it shares with China, including by diverting the flow of rivers to claim the previously submerged land. Can the foreign ministry please comment on this? Wang Wenbin: Were you referring to The Daily Telegraph's report? Follow-up: Yes. Wang Wenbin: The report you cited is a completely unfounded rumor.
In its report, passed to the BBC, the group found that surveillance activities by Chinese security forces had restricted religious activities on the Nepalese side of the border in a place called Lalungjong. ... In the same area, it found China was building a fence around a border pillar, and attempting to construct a canal and a road on the Nepalese side of the border. But the taskforce did find that Chinese buildings originally thought to have been constructed inside Nepal had, in fact, been built on the Chinese side of the border.
the new border crossing from Kyirong, Tibet to Rasuwaghadi, Nepal. Though this border crossing has NOT been opened to foreign travelers yet, this route has been open to traders from Nepal and China for much of the past year...
A cross-border railroad link to the Rasuwagadhi area in Nepal has already been discussed between the two countries.
Hilsa is one of the six border points Nepal and China had agreed to open for international trade when former Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jibao visited Kathmandu in 2012.
Starvation looms large in the northern parts of Sankhuwasabha district after China closed the Kimathanka check post
