A poor and underdeveloped country often falls prey to the games of giant players in international politics. Since there is no such thing as a free lunch, it would be wise to stay alert against any foul play. In international politics, humanity and fraternity come with hidden packages that could hurt our national interest
The pandemic has had significant impact on the economy, social life and politics around the world.
In early 2021, countries like China, Russia, India, US, UK and Germany started manufacturing vaccines to control the pandemic in their countries. Perhaps, this is the right time for the economic giants of the world to restructure their economic and political influence worldwide and revive the drowning economy.
After all he who holds the sword of wealth holds the power to world governance.
The contemporary world has witnessed a race in COVID vaccine production and distribution. The economic giants are trying to regain a foothold in the countries of their interest or influence in the name of humanity through vaccine donations. India, China and the United States are on the scene donating vaccines to Nepal.
India's vaccine donation to Nepal seems to come out of compassion for a friendly neighbour that shares a long cultural, social, and political relationship and is in dire need to contain the COVID-19 surge. An article by former ambassador to Nepal Shyam Saran (India Must Engage with Nepal-without Intervening, published on May 29, 2021) amplifies the need for India to engage with Nepal at all levels and across the political spectrum, the Tarai belt and Madhesi population, establishing people-topeople links, and a foreign policy shift to gain the confidence of Nepal that will safeguard its vital interest.
Winning the Nepali sentiment for India, aligning the Nepali view with that of India against China's expanding influence in South Asia, including the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI), and control of Nepali politics from behind the curtain could be the hidden agenda behind India's vaccine diplomacy.
China was the second country to donate the first consignment of 800,000 China- made COVID-19 vaccines to Nepal on March 29, 2021 when Nepal was hoping to receive the second consignment from India.
Nepal has administered the second dose of the China-made vaccine as of May 14. China sees Nepal as being more connected to India culturally and socially, and assumes Nepali politics to be hard driven by Indian influence.
Thus, the vaccine donation gives China a key to deter India's monopolistic political influence over Nepal, counter the Indo-Pacific Strategy of the United States and the QUAD policy, and push the ambitious BRI project forward.
Meanwhile, the White House has announced a donation of approximately seven million doses for seven countries of South Asia (except Bhutan) and eight countries of the Pacific region.
Again US President Joe Biden, on the eve of the G7 Summit last week, announced it would donate 500 million doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines to low and lower middle income countries. The G7 summit concluded with an announcement of US$ 43 trillion for the B3W (Build Back Better World) strategy, targeting low and middle income economies, which has raised both hope and tension in the international political atmosphere.
Whether or not strings will be attached to the vaccine donation Nepal is going to get to containCOV- ID-19 remains to be seen. It appears the US along with other G7 members is more focused on countries geopolitically located in close proximity to China and along the Indo-Pacific corridor.
The G7has played the vaccine donation and development initiative (of no cost to receiving countries) cards under the US leadership to seek allegiance and consolidate and expedite the Indo-Pacific strategy in the region with the help of its prominent and confident ally, India. The Western block, especially the US, is keen to adopt a strategy that will annihilate China's economic rise (especially the BRI that is eyed by the Western block as a strategic challenge).
No wonder, vaccine diplomacy of the economic giants and influential global powers has come as a boon to Nepal at a time when the COVID surge has battered the social and economic sector the most. Nepal is overwhelmingly grateful for the gestures of humanity extended by the friendly countries.
But Nepal, a poor third world country that has been facing political instability for long, is a sovereign nation and possesses every right to defend its national interest.
Theoretically, Nepal is a sovereign nation state, but it has been suffering from the 'big brother' attitude of India. It would be wise to distinguish a friendly neighbour from a 'big brother'.
Defending the national interest should be at the core of our policy and dealings.
A poor and underdeveloped country often falls prey to the games of giant players in international politics. There is no such thing as a free lunch. It would be wise to stay alert against any foul play.
In international politics, humanity and fraternity come with hidden packages.
Scrutiny is necessary to recognise the attached part and parcels that will suffocate our national interests.
Vaccine donation can come with implants of the MCC, allegiance against either party, allegiance to the Indo-Pacific strategy implementation, and expansion of projects like the BRI.
National and social issues require public debate and holistic consensus. The current endorsement of the Citizenship Act, implementation of the MCC and MoU with China on BRI (in light of the Hambantota Port takeover on lease by China) could be critical issues that play significantly in shaping the social, economic, security and political dimension.
It is always better to have views from the academic elite, political elite, policy drafters in the bureaucracy and sensitive citizens while making decisions regarding critical national political and social issues.
Nepal could be a lucrative playing ground for powers like the US and India against China. The open joint military exercise of the US, Japan and the Philippines in close proximity to China are not hidden from the world spectators. A similar exercise among the US, India and Nepal could happen in Nepal.
Khand is a retired Nepali Army lieutenant colonel
A version of this article appears in the print on June 22, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
