Seven former Nepali ambassadors to China have issued a joint press statement expressing deep concern over a recent event celebrating the 91st birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama in Kathmandu. The former diplomats questioned whether the government is deviating from its long-standing foreign policy commitments to its northern neighbor.
The statement follows news that the Dalai Lama's birthday was celebrated on July 6 at Namgyal School in Nagarjun Municipality-2. The former envoys expressed alarm that foreign diplomatic representatives openly participated in the function, an act they believe challenges Nepal’s diplomatic foundations.
A threat to geopolitical balance
The former ambassadors reminded the government that Nepal has historically adhered to a strict One-China Policy, ensuring that its soil is never utilized for activities hostile or adverse to any friendly nation. They noted that this foundational principle was reiterated just recently during Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal’s official visit to China.
"Has there been a shift in our commitment? Have we altered our foreign policy toward our neighbor?" the press release questioned, warning that if the event took place with the government’s tacit consent, it directly contradicts the diplomatic relations maintained since their inception.
The diplomats warned that allowing such activities risks disrupting the delicate geopolitical balance Nepal has carefully maintained. They stressed that compromised diplomacy could prove counterproductive to the country’s stability, long-term development, and national independence.
Call for government accountability
The ambassadors in the statement have called for an urgent appeal to the Nepal government and all relevant stakeholders to remain highly vigilant. The former envoys have officially drawn the government's attention to ensure that similar incidents are not repeated in the future and urged the leadership to remain strictly sensitive to its bilateral ties with China.
The joint statement was signed by former ambassadors Rajeshwar Acharya, Mahendra Pandey, Tanka Karki, Mahesh Maskey, Leelamani Paudyal, Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, and Krishna Prasad Oli.
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