Towards the end of December, Nepal President Bidhya Devi Bhandari announced the dissolution of the Parliament, resulting in protests and political turmoil in Kathmandu calling the act unconstitutional. The president called for the dissolution at request of the Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, the head of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP). Oli has been accused of corruption, criticized by opponents on his handling of the Coronavirus outbreak, and for becoming closer allies with China than their traditional ally, India. A Chinese delegation headed by the VP of the Chinese Communist Party is meeting with President Bhandari and other Nepali political leaders in attempt to unify the warring factions of the government, and reinstate governmental stability.
China has increased its interest in Nepal political affairs, especially as they continue to expand their investments in the Belt and Road Initiative, which includes the Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network. While the CPC and the NPC continue to work closely in reaching a solution to bring about political unity, India has stated that Nepal’s current turmoil is an ‘internal matter’. India, which is closely aligned with the United States, has been pushing back against Beijing’s increased presence in their mutual neighbor, Nepal. However, it is unsurprising that two neighboring states with similar ideology would increase their allyship, especially as it supports China’s economic goals in the region. In this case, Nepal is a ‘bandwagon state’, which is aligned with the dominating global power of China; both states are receiving a mutual benefit, with Nepal’s contribution to China’s expansive economic initiative, and China’s return of investing in the state’s infrastructure.