Sino-Nepal Relation and Strategic Interests

Nepal is a small mountainous country locked between the two Asian economic giants, China and India. Its geopolitical situation makes it the focus of the growing rivalry between China and India. This rivalry could be either an opportunity for the development of Nepal or its total dependency on either China or India. The Chinese power projection into Nepal threatens the existing Indian economic domination of Nepal. China sees Nepal as a strategic development in its global One Belt One Road project. The expanding influence of China in Nepal, especially via infrastructure initiatives under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is altering the geopolitical landscape in South Asia. It enhances Nepal's negotiating leverage while augmenting its reliance on China in specific domains. Keywords: Sino-Nepal relation, Political-economy, Chinese strategic interests, India