China Expresses Concern Over US Assistant Secretary's Nepal Visit

Kathmandu. China, alongside India, has expressed concern over the visit of US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, S. Paul Kapur, to Nepal.

Kapur, who arrived in Nepal on Monday, departed on Wednesday, while Cao Jing, Deputy Director of the Asian Affairs Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, also visited Nepal for high-level meetings before returning home.

Sources indicate that on the same day Assistant Secretary Kapur met with Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal, Cao also visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She met with Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai to express interest in Kapur's visit.

Kapur held separate meetings with Rabi Lamichhane, Chairman of the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle, and Foreign Minister Khanal. During these meetings, Kapur raised the issue of Tibetan refugees.

Ministry sources state that Cao Jing expressed objection when Kapur raised concerns regarding the security and management of Tibetan refugees. The ministry noted that Jing showed interest in the status of Tibetan refugees in Nepal and recent visits by representatives of the 14th Dalai Lama.

Furthermore, China is closely monitoring Nepal's potential participation in the oath-taking ceremony of Penpa Tsering, President of the Central Tibetan Administration, scheduled for Jestha 13 (May 27).

Meanwhile, sources claim that Deputy Director Cao also met with leaders from the CPN-UML and other communist parties, although this remains to be officially confirmed.

The Asian Affairs Department is responsible for implementing China's foreign policy and principles. It conducts studies on relevant countries and regions, prepares reports on China's bilateral relations, and acts accordingly.

The department handles diplomatic affairs with relevant countries and regions, sends representatives as needed, and provides guidance to China's foreign diplomatic missions. It also performs important diplomatic tasks and translates and interprets various documents and instruments.

Liu Jinsong serves as the Director of the department, which includes four deputy directors, including Cao.

Previously, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song met with then-Home Minister Sudan Kirati on Chaitra 30, where he raised concerns about rising anti-Chinese activities in Nepal.

Ambassador Chen also expressed interest in Tibetan political programs in Nepal, specifically questioning how the Nepal government would respond if invited to the oath-taking ceremony of President Tsering in Dharamshala, India, on May 27 (Jestha 13).

In the meantime, China appears increasingly concerned following the emergence of the Tibetan issue during Kapur's recent meetings and observations in Nepal.

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