Making sense of the West India Company

Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal recently undertook diplomatic journeys to New Delhi and Beijing, aiming to articulate the current government's foreign policy direction. Educated in the United States and experienced in the global NGO sector, Khanal approaches diplomacy with a polished demeanor, acknowledging his own limitations while seeking to dispel misperceptions about the RSP government's international alignment.

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His talks with Chinese leaders would focus on dispelling misperceptions about the RSP government’s foreign-policy orientation.

While India offered a warm reception to Khanal's party chair, the official response to Khanal himself was cordial but not effusive. China is expected to focus on implementing existing commitments, such as the Belt and Road Initiative, rather than making new promises. The government's perceived 'pro-Western' image, a continuation from previous administrations, may complicate efforts to forge new ground in relations with either China or India.

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The Chinese will probably press for the implementation of past commitments, including the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), rather than make fresh promises.

The article delves into the historical context of South Asian countries adopting a 'pro-Western' orientation, noting that this is not a new phenomenon. It references Brahma Chellaney's observations on the evolving US-China dynamic, suggesting a shift from containment to a recognition of China as a peer superpower. Historically, American alliance-building in South Asia primarily aimed at countering the Soviet Union, with Pakistan and Nepal maintaining ties with the Western bloc while also engaging with Beijing.

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Washington’s interest in South Asia may have faded after the Soviet collapse and the triumphalism of the so-called ‘End of History’.

Washington's focus on South Asia waned after the Soviet Union's collapse and the subsequent 'End of History' narrative. Meanwhile, China's integration into the global economy, particularly after joining the World Trade Organization, transformed it into a global manufacturing hub. However, the 2008 financial crisis marked a turning point, with China asserting its growing influence and shifting from being merely the world's workshop to a more assertive global player, as evidenced by the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013.

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By the time BRI was launched in 2013, Beijing was no longer content to remain the workshop of the world.