N. P. Upadhyaya (Aryal)
Kathmandu: Nancy Pelosi (82) has set the ball rolling.
The ball has surely hit the recognized rock pillar with an expected big bang which was there for all to see.
World’s attention now has shifted from the much publicized Russian invasion of Ukraine to Taiwan where a very special US political dignitary’s landing on August 2 has fueled yet another confrontation in this part of Asia.
It is very much likely to kick-start a new high voltage skirmish in between the two world giants-the US and the emerging power China.
The after-effects are being heard, read and felt across the globe.
Pelosi is a high profile hard-headed American politician and at the moment is the sitting Speaker of the United States House of Representatives since all along 2019.
To recall, Pelosi remained a sharp critique of former US President Donald Trump.
The egotistical US political lady was almost a headache for President Donald Trump in the Trumpian years, to recall.
Her fresh trip to Taiwan, an independent and sovereign country as the US and its allies take Pelosi’s country of the destination early this August, however, Chairman Xi Jinping’s and Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s China takes Taiwan not as an independent and sovereign country but an integral part of the mainland China.
In addition, some world’s recognized organisations and countries too believe in the “one China theory” and thus regard Taiwan as an integral part of China wherein Nancy Pelosi landed only to exacerbate the already tensed US-China ties.
Media sources in Washington say that even President Joe Biden too had hinted Pelosi in advance not to visit Taiwan at this time, however, Nancy made it inviting thus China’s strong worded comments against the US that were associated with the instant military exercises in and around Taiwan Straits.
As per the historic 1972 Sanghai Communique official diplomatic agreement the US unequivocally declares that, “there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China and that [the U.S] reaffirms its interest in a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question by the Chinese themselves”.
The communique dates back to Richard Nixonian years when the US President had landed in Beijing.
Nixon taken the risk to establish formal ties with China and it was definitely a breakthrough in bilateral ties.
It was this US Presidential visit that contributed the so far estranged US-China ties a new forward looking dimension though a “complete and cordial” friendship could never be observed, as it stands today, in between the two economic giants.
They still sharply differ on several pressing international issues including the recent one on Russian invasion on Ukraine, over China’s underbelly Tibet and now the Taiwan which the western allies take differently than the mainland Chinese regime.
Having read this joint communique of 1972, what becomes clear is that the USs officials’ position on Taiwan is best to be decided by the Chinese themselves that mutually suits to both.
Not only that, the US in the joint Communique wholeheartedly endorses that “Taiwan” is a part of mainland China and thus Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan is an act that invites confrontation.
However, with Pelosi’s sudden or even a “calculated” dash to Taiwan has dangerously “polarized” the already polarized world.
Pelosi’s adventure is Joe Biden’s political headache.
As if the Ukrainian issue were not enough in creating political and economic chaos across the globe, the US Speaker Nancy has compelled her own country to face the enemy in two war fronts: the first in and around Ukraine for fighting with Putin’s Russian Federation and now the Taiwani Strait to contest with China-the aspiring world power.
Needless to say, the US and China in the recent years sharply differ with each other on several international issues confronting the world politics.
China necessarily differs with the US on some crucial global issues and vice versa.
Pelosi’s fresh act in all likelihood may speed up the China-Russian axis to take a formal shape. If it takes a formal shape then the US will be in double trouble.
India controlled Government of Nepal speaks:
Much ahead of Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, the Kathmandu based Chinese Ambassador Ms. Hou Yanqi became restive and knocked the doors of the political stalwarts of Nepal and ‘reminded’ them all to honor Nepal’s standard and structured “One China policy”.
Her efforts yielded positive results and the government of Nepal, though a bit late, yet issued its comment which stated, “Nepal is closely following the evolving situation in the Taiwan Straits. Nepal has always been upholding One China Policy. Both Nepal and China have been respecting each other’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national independence”.
The statement further adds, “As a peace-loving country, Nepal is in favor of continued peace and stability in the region”.
The issuance of this official statement from Nepal puts to rest the possibilities and the expectations by some interested quarters that Nepal has slightly tilted towards the US in the recent months with the signing of the MCC mega project of the US.
But yet, intelligent brains see the tilt clearly.
Or else a section in Kathmandu’s political circle was tentatively sure that Nepal may not side with China this time with Pelosi’s fresh trip there.
However, Ambassador Hou’s extra efforts made Nepal to stick to its standard one China policy. She was almost nervous.
Is it her gravity or else Nepal had almost forgotten its standard rhetoric on China?
Nepal’s statement may have hurt the US for a while, however, the US too should understand the scary geo-political location of Nepal in between an elephant and the dragon which in itself is a trauma.
Frankly speaking, Nepali sovereignty has a permanent threat from India. In addition, China too is not a reliable partner of Nepal.
With such a situation, Nepal is not safe at all. Neither from China nor from India.
Save a rumored Bejing tilted UML leader Jhal Nath Khanal and Narayan man Bijukchhe of the Nepal peasants party, others have not spoken in favor of China which speaks of their “tacit” linkages with the anti-China lobbies near and far.
Mr. Khanal and Narayan man though appear Beijing tilted, however, people suspect these two communist veterans (?) very much with the Indian regime as these two have had remained instrumental in signing the Delhi’s Hindi drafted the much publicized 12 Point agreement that did way with the Nepali monarchy which then later allowed the Indian regime to run Nepal as per Delhi’s whims albeit with the tacit support of these India funded and elevated nepali leaders then active in nepali politics.
Are they then playing double?
In a visible manner, Nepal is already an Indian protectorate awaiting formal declaration by the India’s media and its paid satellite (s) in Nepal.
Honestly speaking, the US must not get excited in having increased its clout in Kathmandu’s politics with the approval of the US projects in the recent times , however the hard reality is that neither the US nor the Chinese and even the European Countries’ can match the RAW penetration in Nepal .
RAW investment in Nepal run in Billions and Billions.
Yes, what is for sure is that some “agents” may lure and convince the US that they work for them but yet they will in all certainty “serve” the RAW thus with chances of playing “double” befooling the US.
The US and the Chinese are thus advised to remain alert as the RAW spy agency’s funding in Nepal runs in billions and billions, as stated earlier, which is why the India drafted Citizenship bill in Nepal gets easy passage in the Parliament.
Many Indian nationals are even in the Nepal’s Lower House (Parliament).
Enters UN Secretary General:
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on August 4, 2022 too reminded all and sundry that the UN body affirms “One China Policy” as Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan visit has created ripple across the globe.
“Our position is clear. We abide by UNGA resolutions, by the one China policy. And that is the orientation that we have in everything we do”. Added Guterres.
A short news appearing in People’s Review weekly August 4, 2022, states that “the UN body’s general assembly Resolution 2758 adopted in 1971 clearly sticks to One China Policy. It doesn’t thus recognize Taipei-China.
Many puzzles await the US:
While the US has reasons to “investigate” as to why the sitting South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol completely ignored Nancy Pelosi’s presence in Korea.
Korea is close to US heart since decades and decades, however, why President Yoon Suk-yeol skipped meeting with visiting US dignitary is but a serious question as it is now a tale of two strong allies.
The President instead kept himself busy, as was known, meeting Korean actors.
Yet the Korean President has vowed to make his country a global pivotal state and a geopolitical force.
Is President Yoon to attain the said heights with or without the helps from the US?
He remains tight lipped though.
The question now is: was it a deliberate move? Or the President preferred not to invite the Chinese wrath at a later date?
China is the next door neighbor of South Korea.
However, Nancy met other Korean lawmakers while being in Seoul.
The next puzzle is that “India tilted Nepal government’s foreign minister Narayan Khadka is expected to visit Beijing soon in these days.
This too is loaded with meaning.
The high voltage puzzle: South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin is shortly to land in China in a bid, apparently, to assure China that Korea has nothing to do with Pelosi’s Taiwan visit.
To recall, South Korea and US are allies since the division of Korea into two halves.
Having said that, why India-US tilted Nepal Foreign Minister Khadka is visiting Beijing close on the heels of Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan?
Is it to convince China that Nepal sticks to its standard one China policy?
Or to admit in Beijing that of late Nepal’s tilt definitely is for taking greater care of Indian overall interests?
(By time this article appears on the internet, the two FMs will have already completed their visit to China).
And chameleon India is USs partner in the QUAD awaiting great cheat and deceit.
Countries that have come to the support of China is increasing.
After Nepal, it is Sri Lanka, B’desh, Germany, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and even the Taliban regime has sided with China.
On August 3, Myanmar said that it fully supports the “one China policy” and reaffirms that Taiwan is an integral part of People’s Republic of China.
Likewise, the foreign office of Pakistan says that “the country stands by “One China Policy” and has a strong commitment to it.
This single sentence speaks of it all.
Similarly, on August 3, the secretary-general of the Arab league, Hossam Zaki states that “our stance is based on upholding China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and firmly adhering to the one –China principle”.
Now back to Nepal: One thing that struck the intelligent brains of Nepali observers is that while the Chinese envoy was visiting door to door to see the Nepali leaders to seek their “commitment” to One China Policy, she is reportedly to have appealed the Nepali leaders that “China expects” Nepal will stick to its standard “One China Policy.
The use of the word ‘expect’ is somewhat interesting and loaded with meaning underneath.
Is it that the Chinese envoy was not sure that Nepal will stick to One China Policy given the entry of the US in Nepal in some way or the other?
If then it means that China takes Nepali ruling elite of today as the ones who could easily get tempted to toe the US line of thought on China.
Is it that which scared China in Kathmandu? Could be. Not sure.
International commentator of repute Robert Lawrence Kuhn Talking to CGTN dated August 5, says, “”Pelosi is the highest ranking US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years –a high profile visit of symbolism and flourish-thus giving Taiwan, as the Chinese mainland sees it, tacit encouragement of quasi-independence which the mainland vigorously opposes, because Taiwan’ China avers, is its is its sovereign territory and internal affairs”.
If this is so then does it mean that Pelosi went Taiwan in her bid to recognize Taiwan as an independent country?
Could be yes. However, what is more than surprising is that Nancy herself in one of her statement has asserted that her visit in ‘no way contradicts longstanding USs policy … and that “the US continues to oppose unilateral efforts to change the status quo”.
If the USs and more so Pelosi herself sticks to One China Policy then why the Pelosi’s visit?
Why aggravating the regional security mechanism? Why inviting confrontation?
Is it for selling new weapons to Taiwan? This has meaning indeed.
The US must now think as to why its supporters in the globe are decreasing?
China though not a good and reliable partner for any country, is still bags sympathies from most of the countries in the globe?
Conclusion: The US must, as we understand, either stick to the Joint Communique of the Nixon era or negate it summarily.
The fact is also that Taiwan dares to challenge mainland China only because the US and the developed west is on its side which is an asset for Taiwan to a greater extent. However, the US must also not ignore China’s military strength that is equipped with sophisticated weapons and missiles.
Better the US and China reconcile for the greater benefit of the global peace.
A million dollar advice to both:
The US must not consider itself as world Policeman. China too must allow democracy to flourish.
Thus reconciliation is the mid-way where the benefit of the world is.
The US-China bilateral trade runs in billions and billions so they may not invite a full-fledged war, hopefully.
Cool…cool could just be said to both confronting countries.
We wish to conclude this article with Germany’s request for de-escalation in the Taiwan Strait.
Deputy government spokesman Wolfgang Buchner, August 3, 2022, told in Berlin that Germany remains committed to “one China policy”, and also doesn’t see a change in US policy with Pelosi’s visit.
That’s all.