Kathmandu, September 11

The Embassy of the United States in Kathmandu today said it was waiting for Nepal government’s official clarification on a Chinese foreign ministry statement issued yesterday that said Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Co-chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal had said Nepal did not endorse the US’ Indo-Pacific Strategy.

Nepal Firmly adheres to the non-aligned policy and does not endorse the so-called Indo-Pacific strategy, and it opposes any attempt to stop China’s development, the Chinese ministry’s statement has quoted Dahal as saying during his meeting with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Kathmandu yesterday.

According to the statement, Dahal said Nepal was committed to the one-China policy, not only verbally but also in action, and would not allow any external forces to engage in anti-China activities in Nepal.

Following the Chinese statement, the US Embassy said it had asked its embassy in Beijing to verify the statement. “If true, it is bewildering that we now learn about Nepal’s positions from statements issued from Beijing,” said US Embassy Spokesperson Andie De Arment in a statement.

However, an aide of Dahal said that the Indo-Pacific Strategy featured in Dahal-Wang talks, but there was nothing negative about the Indo-Pacific Strategy in Dahal’s statement.

“Dahal said during his meeting with Wang that the government and the ruling party does not endorse any such strategy of any country if that is against our neighbours or if that is not in Nepal’s national interest,” the aide said.

“I think the statement does not say anything negative about the Indo-Pacific strategy,” the aide added.