Implications on Nepal’s Foreign Affairs of the Sino-Indian Rapprochement over Lipulekh

When China and India get closer, will Nepal be uncomfortable with losing its strategicspace? The available literature on Sino-Indian conflict competition in the Himalayanregion do not divulge impacts of cooperation Nepal. By examining theSino-Indian rapprochement over Nepal’s Lipulekh, this study elaborates implications ofIndia’s China’s neighborhood policies foreign policy. In 2015, while Nepalwas concentrating post-earthquake relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction, andIndia—the two Asian geopolitical rivals, decided to use Lipulekh as a trading corridor,without consent. agreement only stirredcontroversy but also raised questions intention immediateneighbors. Although 2015 was first time that neighbors agreed upon Lipulekhroute, case is studied methodologicallyanalyzed under framework exploratory research design. situating theconceptual small states, first, surveys policy behaviorin context Gulliverian through deductive reasoning. Second, theimpacts multi-faceted interactions are identifiedthrough inductive Finally, Chinaand toward discussed against backdrop rapprochementover Lipulekh.