Nepal’s Turn to China

I

n the June 2020 territorial dispute over Kalapani, India was faced with a newly assertive Nepal, and blamed the latter’s deepening relations with China for the tension. But beyond the accusations and the grandstanding, there was a new reality to reckon with: the power equations in South Asia had been redrawn to make space for China.

Nepal did not turn northwards overnight, however. For one, Nepal–China ties have deep historical roots built on Buddhism, going as far back as the early first millennium. For another, while the 2015 unofficial Indian blockade had provided momentum to the rift, the Himalayan nation had long wanted greater ties with its northern neighbour to counteract India’s oppressive intimacy. With China’s growing ambitions, both globally and in South Asia, Nepal now has a new primary bilateral partner—and Nepalis are forging a path towards modernity with its help, both in the remote Himalayan borderlands and in the cities.

All Roads Lead North is the long view on Nepal’s foreign relations, as well as the story of China as a global power in the twenty-first century. With never-before-told stories about Tibetan guerrilla fighters, failed coup leaders and trans-Himalayan traders, this book examines the histories that tie remote Himalayan communities to each other. Part historical study, part journalistic account and all of it rigorously researched, Nepal analyst Amish Raj Mulmi writes a new, complex and compelling account of a small country caught between two neighbourhood giants.

‘By a deft combination of long-range historical perspective and scrupulous reportage, Mulmi turns the searchlight on Nepal’s ties with Tibet and China. His tightly crafted narrative and argument revise much of the received wisdom on the recent trajectory of Nepal’s foreign relations. This book should be required reading for everyone in New Delhi dealing with Nepal and for anyone interested in understanding China’s growing footprint in the subcontinent.’

-Srinath Raghavan, author of The Most Dangerous Place: A History of the United States in South Asia

‘In All Roads Lead North, Amish Mulmi examines the rich history of Nepal’s global engagement through its northern border, marked as it is by trade, cultural exchange, political maneuvering, and occasional conflict, even war. Whether he be writing about Kathmandu’s Lhasa traders or the ordinary inhabitants of the remote Himalayan borderlands, Mulmi fuses meticulous on-the-ground reportage with his vast knowledge of history. As such, he corrects the common understanding of Nepal as a satellite of India, and places the nation in its proper geopolitical context. This book introduces readers to Nepal anew.’

-Manjushree Thapa, author of Forget Kathmandu