Kathmandu [Nepal], July 9 – An annual celebration marking the Dalai Lama’s birthday has unexpectedly become the latest political flashpoint in Nepal, with opposition leaders accusing Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s government of straying from the country’s long-standing One China policy despite similar observances having taken place in previous years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Members of Nepal’s exiled Tibetan community gathered in Kathmandu on July 6 to celebrate the 14th Dalai Lama’s 91st birthday, cutting a cake during a ceremony held at Namgyal Secondary School in Swayambhu. The event was held indoors under security arrangements and attended by diplomats from the United States and several other Western countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the celebration itself was not unusual, the political reaction that followed has raised questions about why an annual religious observance has suddenly become the subject of a heated foreign policy debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha was among the first senior political leaders to publicly criticise the government. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a social media post, he linked the birthday celebration to broader concerns over Nepal’s foreign policy direction, citing congratulatory messages previously received by the interim government led by Sushila Karki and the current government from the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shrestha also referred to speculation that the successor to the Dalai Lama could be announced from Nepal and argued that the government’s approval of the birthday celebration along with the reported presence of Western diplomats had reinforced concerns that Kathmandu may be departing from its established foreign policy. He warned that any move away from Nepal’s independent and non-aligned approach in favour of the strategic interests of a major power would undermine the country’s sovereignty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The criticism was echoed in Parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking in the House of Representatives on Thursday, CPN-UML Chief Whip Ain Mahar questioned whether the Shah government had gone against Nepal’s One China policy by allowing what he described as the birthday celebration of a “separatist leader.” Mahar said the event had affected Nepal’s relationship with China and claimed that seven former Nepali ambassadors to China had also objected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal also criticised the government, saying it had for the first time in Nepal’s history allowed a public celebration of the Dalai Lama’s birthday and describing the move as inconsistent with Nepal’s long-standing One China policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The criticism, however comes against the backdrop of similar birthday observances having taken place in Kathmandu in previous years under successive governments. That has prompted questions over why this year’s event has generated unusually strong political opposition despite no publicly announced change in Nepal’s policy towards Tibet or China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Offering a different assessment, foreign affairs expert Govinda Raj Pokharel dismissed the controversy as politically driven rather than a genuine shift in Nepal’s China policy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pokharel said the annual celebration of the Dalai Lama’s birthday has taken place in Nepal for more than a decade and argued there was little to distinguish this year’s event from previous observances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The opposition is raising these concerns based on suspicion. They are trying to create a controversy around something that is not new,” he said. “For almost 11 years, Nepal has allowed celebrations of the Dalai Lama’s birthday. Turning a regularly organised event into a political issue appears to be politically motivated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pokharel also argued that some opposition leaders may be seeking to draw Beijing’s attention to the issue, warning that such political messaging risks complicating Nepal’s diplomatic position rather than benefiting its relationship with China. The expert added that the criticism could also be aimed at putting additional political pressure on the Balendra Shah government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So far, the Balendra Shah government has not publicly responded to the criticism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Its actions in recent weeks, however have continued to reflect Nepal’s official position on China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During his official visit to Beijing in June, Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal reaffirmed Nepal’s commitment to the One China policy. The same assurance was conveyed by Home Minister Sudan Gurung during his first courtesy meeting with the Chinese ambassador to Nepal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi welcomed Nepal’s continued adherence to the One China policy and its support for what China describes as its core interests, including Tibet. Wang also remarked that “close neighbours are better than distant partners,” a comment widely interpreted as highlighting the importance Beijing places on its relationship with Kathmandu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The latest controversy illustrates how Tibet remains one of the most sensitive issues in Nepal’s diplomacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nepal shares a 1,414-kilometre border with China’s Tibet Autonomous Region and has long maintained that it will not allow its territory to be used for activities that China considers anti-China. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the same time, it is home to a long-established Tibetan refugee community whose religious and cultural activities continue to draw close attention from both Beijing and Western governments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Washington places greater emphasis on the rights and freedoms of Tibetan refugees and Beijing seeks stronger assurances on Tibet-related activities, Kathmandu continues to navigate competing diplomatic expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The debate surrounding this year’s Dalai Lama birthday celebration therefore extends beyond a single religious event. It reflects how Tibet remains a sensitive intersection of Nepal’s domestic politics and foreign policy, where even long-standing community observances can become politically charged amid broader geopolitical competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
About the author: Beyond writing and working as a Producer, Sakshi is a passionate journalist with a keen interest in health, politics and business. Now, at Kathmandu Pati, she brings her point of view as a writer.<\/em> Kathmandu [Nepal], July 9 – An annual celebration marking the Dalai Lama’s birthday has unexpectedly become the latest political flashpoint in Nepal, with opposition leaders accusing Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s government of straying from the country’s long-standing One China policy despite similar observances having taken place in previous years. Members of Nepal’s exiled Tibetan community […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":29122,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,5,7,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29108","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diplomacy","category-nepal","category-politics","category-special-report"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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