Nepal Protests India-China Agreement to Reopen Lipulekh Trade Route

Nepal has accused China and India of serious wrongdoing over the recent agreement to restore trade via the Lipulekh Pass, which Nepal contends is part of its territory. Further, the government asserts that Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani (east of the Mahakali River), is critical areas of Nepal that are shown on the national map and in the constitution.

 Following an agreement in New Delhi between Chinese and Indian officials to reopen three historic border trade routes, Lipulekh, Shipki La, and Nathu La, the problem arose.  In response, India said that Nepal's territorial claims were "unfounded and not based on historical evidence" and that trade through the Lipulekh Pass had been going on since 1954.

Both ruling and opposition politicians in Nepal denounced the deal as a violation of their country's sovereignty. They urged the government to take strong diplomatic and political measures to protect the country’s territorial integrity and insisted that India and China must respect Nepal’s claims.

The dispute comes ahead of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s visits to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit and to India in mid-September. Nepal has previously protested similar agreements, including a 2015 India-China trade deal and the construction of a road by India in 2020 through the disputed area.

Nepal is adamant about defending its territorial claims through communication and diplomacy and maintains that any actions in the disputed area must have its approval.