China's readiness to amend the agreement with India to expand bilateral trade through Lipu Lekh comes after Nepal made such a request. Sources said the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) is making a serious review of the agreement after it courted controversy in Nepal.A section of the Chinese media said the agreement between China and India to expand trade through Lipu Lekh does not give Chinese recognition to India's control over Lipu Lekh. In the same vein, a South Asian affairs expert close to Chinese State Council on Sunday said, "China will definitely review its agreement with India if Lipu Lekh is a disputed area. China does not have any intention to hurt Nepal."
During the visit of Indian Prime Minister to China, the two countries had issued a joint statement saying the two countries agreed to expand trade through Lipu Lekh.
Nepal has expressed its reservations with Kathmandu-based Chinese and Indian ambassadors over the issue after it drew the attention of parliament and the media. Similarly, Nepali ambassadors in Beijing and Delhi have begun quiet diplomacy in a bid to resolve the dispute.
According to Mahesh Maskey, Nepali ambassador to China, Chinese authorities have been provided with various evidences concerning, including a copy of the Sugauli treaty, after they asked Nepal to provide them with historical evidences over Nepal's claim to the territory.
Nepal has maintained that the territory from Limpiyadhura belongs to Nepal and Lipu Lekh Bhanjyang is on the Nepal-China border. As Nepal's official map recognizes Kali River that flows from Lipu Lekh in the name of Lipu Khola, Maskey said Nepal has reminded concerned authorities in China that Lipu Lekh is on the border between Nepal, India and China and that it would not be appropriate to reach any such agreement without Nepal's participation.
"China had spoken about the Lipu Lekh dispute. We have asked China to put forth its position on Lipu Lekh," Maskey told Republica on Monday. "They have said they will do something about it."
In the last 60 years of diplomatic relations, Chinese top leadership during each high level visit to Nepal has reiterated that China would fully respect Nepal's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Although Nepal does not harbor anti-China feelings, the agreement with India over Lipu Lekh has stoked such feelings.
Beijing-based young South Asia expert Xu Liang calls Nepal's concern over Lipu Lekh agreement "very natural." "China can't recognize India's control over Lipu Lekh by undermining Nepal's territorial integrity," said Xu, who is Lecturer at the Beijing International Studies University.
India and China had reached an agreement to use Lipu Lekh as trade route and route to Mansarobar pilgrimage some 61 years ago without informing Nepal. Following lengthy diplomatic negotiations, China and India had agreed to open six trade routes, including Lipu Lekh. Professor Wang Hongwei, who is also author of A Critical Review of the Sino-Indian Relations, has described how India has tried to manipulate the text of that agreement.
India and China could not fully implement the agreement reached in 1954 as there were border disputes between the two countries in the western parts. All these trade routes remained closed for the next three decades after the two countries engaged in a bitter war in 1962.
Following the defeat in 1962 war, India appeared to have understood the strategic importance of Lipu Lekh Bhanjyang. India then established a military camp in Kalapani despite Nepal's protest.
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