China–Nepal border

Last updated
Nepal border
नेपाल सिमाना
Characteristics
EntitiesFlag of Nepal.svg    Nepal
Length1,389 km (863 mi)
History
Established1956
–Nepal Agreement
Current shape28 April 1960
Sino-Nepalese Treaty of Peace and Friendship
Treaties

{{Multiple image (Trapezium).svg | image2 = Boundary marker of Nepal.svg | width = 100 | footer = Nepalese boundary markers }}

Contents

Map of-Nepal border CIA-map-of-borders-of-Nepal-1965.jpg
Map of-Nepal border

The Nepal border is the international boundary between the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China and Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. It is 1,389 kilometres (863 mi) in length and runs in a northwest–southeast direction along the Himalayan mountain range, including Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain. [1] The boundaries of this particular border have changed dramatically over time. However, some of the most significant developments of modern times would be the signing of the "Agreement on Maintaining Friendly Relations between the People’s Republic the Kingdom of Nepal" in 1956 and the "Sino-Nepalese Treaty of Peace and Friendship" in 1960, both of which formally recognised Tibet as a part of China and confirmed the limits of the countries of China and Nepal as they are known today. [2] [3]

Description

Mount Everest, as seen from Ronguk monastery in Tibet Mount Everest North Face.jpg
Mount Everest, as seen from Ronguk monastery in Tibet

The border starts in the west at the western tripoint with India near the Tinkar Pass in Sudurpashchim Province. [4] It then proceeds south-east to the Urai Pass and then north-east, briefly utilising the Karnali River, before turning to the south-east at the Lapche Pass. It then proceeds in that general direction over various mountains crests in the Himalayan range, including Mount Everest, Mount Makalu and Mount Salasungo, as passes such as the Manja, Thau, Marima, Pindu, Gyala, Lajing and Popti Passes. [5] It terminates at the eastern tripoint with India on Jongsong Peak. [5]

History

The border region has historically existed at the edges of various Nepali, Indian and Tibetan kingdoms. [5] Cross-border trade between Nepalis and Tibetans has existed for centuries, for example in wool, tea, spices and salt. [6] [7] Though various Nepali-Tibetan treaties were signed in the 18th-19th centuries, these concerned the ownership of often vaguely-defined territories rather than with delimiting a precise boundary. [5]

In 1950–51, the People's Republic of China annexed Tibet, and thereby inherited the somewhat confused situation along the boundary. [8] On 21 March 1960 a border treaty was signed which recognised the "traditional customary line" and created a joint boundary commission to delimit a more precise border. [5] Having completed their work, a final boundary treaty was signed on 5 October 1961. [5] The border was then demarcated on the ground with pillars, and a final protocol signed on 23 January 1963. [5]

The government of Nepal tends to deny or downplay any territorial disputes with China for fear of losing economic favors. [9] In 2021, the Nepali government documented border infringements by China by subsequently censored the report. [9]

Humla border dispute

The western China–Nepal–India tripoint is disputed between Nepal and India since 1990s as part of Kalapani territory. In 2015, the Nepalese parliament objected to the agreement between India and China to trade through Lipulekh stating that 'it violates Nepal's sovereign rights over the disputed territory'. [10] After Indian prime minister Narendra Modi's visit to China in 2015, India and China agreed to open a trading post in Lipulekh, raising objections from Nepal. [11] [12]

In November 2020, Nepali politicians claimed China had annexed more than 150 hectares of Nepalese land. [13] The Nepali government in September 2021 formed a team under Home Ministry Joint Secretary Jaya Narayan Acharya to study dispute in Limi of Namkha Rural Municipality of Humla. [14] The committee comprised Deputy Director General of the Survey Department Sushil Dangol, Senior Superintendent of Nepal Police Umesh Raj Joshi, Senior Superintendent of Armed Police Force Pradip Kumar Pal, Joint Director of National Investigation Department Kishor Kumar Shrestha and Home Ministry Secretary Acharya. This team submitted its report on 26 September which brought the conclusion of claim being truth. It suggested making a joint force for dispute resolution. [15]

In addition, NC Karnali Provincial Assembly party and former minister Jeevan Bahadur Shahi lead team had submitted report on same asking to bring back Nepalese land. [16] [17] [18] This matter was raised and supported by NC vice-president and former Home minister Bimalendra Nidhi who was Deputy Prime minister in Second Dahal cabinet. [19] [20]

In early 2022, a Nepali government report was leaked. The report indicated the previously alleged buildings were on Chinese side, but found that China has built fences, a canal, and a road that encroached on Nepali soil. [21]

Border crossings

In 2012, Nepal and China agreed to open new ports of entry, to a total of six official ports. Three of the ports are designated as international ports, while three others are only designated for bilateral trade. [22]

The border crossing between Zhangmu and Kodari on the Friendship Highway has been in operation since 1968.[ citation needed ] In 2014, the border crossing at Rasuwa Fort (Rasuwagadhi) was opened for commerce and then for foreign nationals from 2017. [6] [23] In addition, this border crossing is being considered for a future rail crossing between the two countries. [24]

Other crossings, like the one at Burang-Hilsa near the western tripoint, while not widely accessible have been used for local trade between China and Nepal for many years. [25] Some of those crossings have become so important for local trade that in 2008, when Chinese tightened its border control during the Olympics, villages like Kimathanka faced food shortages due to disruption of local trade. [26] Korala, the latest border crossing to open, started operations in 2023. [27] [28]

Ports of Entry According to 2012 Treaty
Treaty Name [22] (Other Name)Jurisdictions [22] StatusInternational
Transit		Crossing
Location		Border
elevation		Maximum
inside T.A.R.		Note
Burang–Yari (Xieerwa [29] ) Hilsa, Humla District
Burang, Burang County 		ActivePlanned 30°09′12″N81°20′00″E / 30.15333°N 81.33333°E / 30.15333; 81.33333 3,640 m (11,900 ft)4,720 m (15,500 ft)Local trade currently exists
Lektse—Nechung (Korala) Lo Manthang, Mustang District
Yagra, Zhongba County 		ActiveNo 29°19′24″N83°59′09″E / 29.32333°N 83.98583°E / 29.32333; 83.98583 4,620 m (15,200 ft)
Gyirong–Rasuwa Rasuwa Gadhi, Rasuwa District
Gyirong, Gyirong County 		ActiveYes 28°16′45″N85°22′43″E / 28.27917°N 85.37861°E / 28.27917; 85.37861 1,850 m (6,100 ft)5,230 m (17,200 ft)
Zhangmu–Kodari Tatopani, Sindhupalchok District
Zhangmu, Nyalam County 		Active [30] Yes 27°58′24″N85°57′50″E / 27.97333°N 85.96389°E / 27.97333; 85.96389 1,760 m (5,800 ft)5,150 m (16,900 ft)
Chentang–Kimathanka Kimathanka, Sankhuwasabha District
Chentang, Dinggyê County 		PlannedNo 27°51′30″N87°25′30″E / 27.85833°N 87.42500°E / 27.85833; 87.42500 2,248 m (7,400 ft)Local trade currently exists
Ri'og–Olangchung Gola (Tipta La) Olangchung Gola, Taplejung District
Ri'og, Dinggyê County 		PlannedNo 27°49′00″N87°44′00″E / 27.81667°N 87.73333°E / 27.81667; 87.73333 5,095 m (16,700 ft)Local trade currently exists

Galleries

Historical maps of the border from west to east in the International Map of the World and Operational Navigation Chart, middle/late 20th century:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Humla District</span> District in Karnali Province, Nepal

Humla District, a part of Karnali Province, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal. The district, with Simikot as its district headquarters, covers an area of 5,655 km2 (2,183 sq mi) and has population of 50,858 as per the census of 2011. Namkha is the largest rural municipal which lies in humla Humla is the 2nd largest district of Nepal. The southern and middle parts of Humla District are inhabited by Khas communities, originating from Sinja valley, whereas the higher and northern parts of Humla are mostly inhabited by culturally Tibetan communities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simikot</span> District Headquarters in Karnali, Nepal

Simikot is the administrative headquarters of Humla District of Karnali Zone in the mountain region of northwestern Nepal.

The Lipulekh Pass is a Himalayan pass on the border between Uttarakhand, India and the Tibet region of China, near their trijunction with Nepal. Nepal has had ongoing claims to the southern side of the pass, called Kalapani territory, which has been under Indian administration since around 1960, but this issue is often downplayed by the Indian government. The pass is near the trading town of Taklakot (Purang) in Tibet and has been used since ancient times by traders, mendicants and pilgrims transiting between India and Tibet. It is also used by pilgrims to Kailas and Manasarovar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zhangmu</span> Town in Tibet, China

Zhangmu or Dram in Tibetan, or Khasa in Nepali, is a customs town and port of entry located in Nyalam County in Tibet, China close to the Nepal-China border, just uphill and across the Bhotekoshi River from the Nepalese town of Kodari. At 2,300 metres (7,500 ft) above sea level, Zhangmu has a mild and humid subtropical climate, which is a rarity for Tibet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Purang Town</span> Town in Tibet, Peoples Republic of China

Purang or Burang, known as Puhreng in Tibetan, (Nepali:ताक्लाकोट) is a town which serves as the administrative center of Purang County, Ngari Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), China. The town lies at an altitude of 3,900m in the valley of the Karnali River. The town spans an area of 3,257.81 square kilometres (1,257.85 sq mi), and has a permanent population 6,047 as of 2010, and a hukou population of 4,477 as of 2018. To the south are Gurla Mandhata and the Abi Gamin ranges. Lake Manasarovar and Mount Kailash are to the north. This region is the mythological and actual river nexus of the Himalaya with sources of the Indus, Ganges and Yarlung Tsangpo/Brahmaputra all within 110 kilometres (70 mi) of Purang.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–Nepal relations</span> Bilateral relations

The bilateral relations between Nepal and China are defined by the Sino-Nepalese Treaty of Peace and Friendship signed on April 28, 1960, by the two countries. Though initially unenthusiastic, Nepal has been of late making efforts to increase trade and connectivity with China. Relations between Nepal and China got a boost when both countries solved all border disputes along the China–Nepal border by signing the Sino-Nepal boundary agreement on March 21, 1960, making Nepal the first neighboring country of China to conclude a border treaty with China. The governments of both Nepal and China ratified the border treaty on October 5, 1961. From 1975 onward, Nepal has maintained a policy of balancing the competing influence of China and Nepal's southern neighbor India, the only two neighbors of the Himalayan country after the accession of the Kingdom of Sikkim into India in 1975.

Tatopani is a village in Sindhupalchok District in the Bagmati Zone of central Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 3102 and had 613 houses in the village. Majority people are of ethnic Sherpa and Tamang. Historically and today, it is a huge trading post between Nepal and China. People living here speak Nepali and Tibetan.There is a inactive volcano in there as well. Shrestha Bipin is mayor in Tatopani. The actual border crossing is at Kodari. The village was visited by and served as pitstop for famous indian scholar and travelogue Rahul Sankrityayan multiple times on his way to Tibet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Limi</span> Village in Karnali Province, Nepal

Limi Valley is a high-altitude valley that forms the northernmost part of the Humla District of north-western Nepal. To its north, the Limi valley borders the Purang County of Tibet, China.

Kimathanka is a village in Bhotkhola rural municipality of Sankhuwasabha District of Koshi Province, Nepal and serves as the Nepalese counterpart of the Nepal-China border at Zhentang (Chentang). At the time of the 1991 census, it had a population of 303 people living in 50 individual households.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Himalaya Trail</span> Long-distance hiking trail

The Great Himalaya Trail is a route across the Himalayas from east to west. The original concept was to establish a single long distance trekking trail from the east end to the west end of Nepal that includes a total of roughly 1,700 kilometres (1,100 mi) of path. There is a proposed trail of more than 4,500 kilometres (2,800 mi) stretching the length of the Greater Himalaya range from Nanga Parbat in Pakistan to Namche Barwa in Tibet thus passing through, India, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. Although an actual continuous route is currently only a concept, if completed it would be the longest and highest alpine hiking track in the world.

The Kalapani territory is an area under Indian administration as part of Pithoragarh district in the Kumaon Division of the Uttarakhand state, but it is also claimed by Nepal since 1997. According to Nepal's claim, it lies in Darchula district, Sudurpashchim Province. The territory represents part of the basin of the Kalapani river, one of the headwaters of the Kali River in the Himalayas at an altitude of 3600–5200 meters. The valley of Kalapani, with the Lipulekh Pass at the top, forms the Indian route to Kailash–Manasarovar, an ancient pilgrimage site. It is also the traditional trading route to Tibet for the Bhotiyas of Kumaon and the Tinkar valley of Nepal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kodari</span> Border village in Bagmati, Nepal

Kodari is a small village located at the border with Tibet-China. The village is located at the end–point of the Arniko Highway, which connects Kodari with the capital city of Kathmandu. Kathmandu is 144 kilometres (89 mi) away from Kodari. Kodari is a major border crossing from Nepal into the Tibet Autonomous Region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hilsa, Nepal</span> Place in Mid-Western, Nepal

Hilsa is a village in the northwestern corner of Nepal bordering Tibet Autonomous Region (China), where the Humla Karnali crosses from the Tibetan Plateau into the mountain regions on its descent to the Ganges. Hilsa is in Humla District, Karnali Zone facing Burang County, Ngari Prefecture, Tibet region of China.

Zhêntang Town, also known as Chentang, is a town in Dinggyê County, in the Shigatse prefecture-level city of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It is a border town on the China–Nepal border and lies on the Pum Qu River. At the time of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 2,043.As of 2013, it had 6 communities under its administration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korala</span> Pass between Tibet and Nepal

Korala or Kora La or Koro La {Nepali: (Nepali: कोरला]; literally Kora Pass} is a mountain pass between Tibet and Gandaki Province. At only 4,660 metres in elevation, it has been considered the lowest drivable path between Tibetan Plateau and the Indian subcontinent. It currently serves as a vehicle border crossing between China and Nepal. Korala in Mustang is the fourth border point that Beijing has reopened after the Rasuwa-Kerung, Tatopani-Khasa and Yari -Purang.

Kyirong or Gyirong , Jilong in Chinese and Kerung in Nepalese, is a town situated in the southern part of Gyirong County in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. The town is situated on the east bank of Kyirong Tsangpo, a source stream of the Trishuli River, at an elevation of about 2,700 metres (8,900 ft). It has a subtropical mountain monsoon climate, with reasonable precipitation and warm weather, unusual for Tibet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rasuwa Fort</span> Fort ruin in the Rasuwa District of Nepal

Rasuwa Fort or Rasuwa Gadhi is a historical fort ruin in the Rasuwa District of Nepal roughly at the border with Tibet, China. It is located along the Trishuli River 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) north of the Nepalese town of Timure in Langtang National Park, yet 25 km south of the nearest locality of China at Gyirong Town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">India–Nepal border</span> International boundary in South Asia

The India–Nepal border is an open international boundary running between the republics of India and Nepal. The 1,751 km (1,088.02 mi) long border includes the Himalayan territories as well as Indo-Gangetic Plain of the subcontinent. The current border was delimited after the Sugauli treaty of 1816 between Nepal and the British Raj. Following Indian independence, the prevailing border was recognised as the international border between the Kingdom of Nepal and the Dominion of India.

Tinkar is a village in the Byans Rural Municipality of Darchula District in the Sudurpashchim province of Nepal. It is named after the Tinkar Khola river, a tributary of the Mahakali River, which it joins near the village of Chhangru.

References

  1. ↑ "Nepal". CIA World Factbook. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  2. ↑ Van Tronder, Gerry (2018). Sino-Indian War: Border Clash: October–November 1962. Pen and Sword Military. ISBN   9781526728388.
  3. ↑ Adhikari, Monalisa (2012). "Between the Dragon and the Elephant: Nepal's Neutrality Conundrum". Indian Journal of Asian Affairs. 25 (1/2): 85. JSTOR   41950522.
  4. ↑ Cowan, Sam (2015), The Indian checkposts, Lipu Lekh, and Kalapani, School of Oriental and African Studies, pp. 16–17
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Office of the Geographer (1965-05-30), International Boundary Study - China – Nepal Boundary (PDF), Bureau of Intelligence and Research, US Department of State, archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-05-03, retrieved 2017-02-14
  6. 1 2 Murton, Galen (March 2016). "A Himalayan Border Trilogy: The Political Economies of Transport Infrastructure and Disaster Relief between China and Nepal". Cross-Currents E-Journal. ISSN   2158-9674. Archived from the original on 2020-11-24. Retrieved 2017-02-09.
  7. ↑ Eede, Joanna (2015-06-12). "Nomads of Dolpo". National Geographic Voices. National Geographic. Archived from the original on July 15, 2015. Retrieved 2017-02-10.
  8. ↑ Office of the Geographer (1965): "The exact number of territorial disputes has never been ascertained, but as many as 20 sectors may have been involved. The most serious disputes were located at Rasu (north of Katmandu), Kimathanka in the east, Nara Pass, Tingribode near Mustang, Mount Everest, and the Nelu River. Most of these disputes were settled in favor of Nepal, although several favored China."
  9. 1 2 Beech, Hannah; Sharma, Bhadra (2024-10-12). "China's 'New Great Wall' Casts a Shadow on Nepal". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  10. ↑ Nepal objects to India-China trade pact via Lipu-Lekh Pass, The Economic Times, 9 June 2015.
  11. ↑ "Resolve Lipu-Lekh Pass dispute: House panel to govt", Republica, 28 June 2018, archived from the original on 28 June 2018
  12. ↑ Ekantipur Report (July 9, 2015). "Lipulekh dispute: UCPN (M) writes to PM Koirala, Indian PM Modi & Chinese Prez Xi". Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  13. ↑ Wang, Wenbin (3 November 2020). "Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on November 3, 2020". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. Retrieved 5 March 2022. The Daily Telegraph: Nepalese politicians have said that Chinese soldiers annexed more than 150 hectares of land in five areas near the border it shares with China, including by diverting the flow of rivers to claim the previously submerged land. Can the foreign ministry please comment on this? Wang Wenbin: Were you referring to The Daily Telegraph's report? Follow-up: Yes. Wang Wenbin: The report you cited is a completely unfounded rumor.
  14. ↑ "Government team to visit Humla to study Nepal-China border dispute". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  15. ↑ "संयुक्त संयन्‍त्रमार्फत हुम्लाको नेपाल-चीन सीमा समस्या समाधान गर्न सुझाव". ekantipur.com (in Nepali). Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  16. ↑ "China responsible if anything happens to me: Nepal politician who accused Beijing of encroaching territory". www.timesnownews.com. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  17. ↑ Sureis (2020-10-12). "NC lawmaker-led team reports Chinese encroachment in Humla". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  18. ↑ Republica. "NC leader Shahi asks China to produce evidence to prove it has not encroached upon Nepali territory". My Republica. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  19. ↑ Setopati, Prashanna Pokharel. "Nidhi slams Deuba for not including MCC and border dispute with China in common minimum program". Setopati. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  20. ↑ "Border dispute issue with China raised at Congress senior leaders' meeting". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  21. ↑ Bristow, Michael (8 February 2022). "China encroaching along Nepal border - report". BBC News . Retrieved 5 March 2022. In its report, passed to the BBC, the group found that surveillance activities by Chinese security forces had restricted religious activities on the Nepalese side of the border in a place called Lalungjong. ... In the same area, it found China was building a fence around a border pillar, and attempting to construct a canal and a road on the Nepalese side of the border. But the taskforce did find that Chinese buildings originally thought to have been constructed inside Nepal had, in fact, been built on the Chinese side of the border.
  22. 1 2 3 "中华人民共和国政府和尼泊尔政府关于边境口岸及其管理制度的协定" [China-Nepal Agreement on Port of Entry] (in Chinese). Chinese Embassy in Nepal. 2012-01-14. Retrieved 2017-02-10.
  23. ↑ Lobsang (2016-06-25). "Tibet Nepal Border Closedsalt". The Land of Snows. Archived from the original on 2017-02-11. Retrieved 2017-02-09. the new border crossing from Kyirong, Tibet to Rasuwaghadi, Nepal. Though this border crossing has NOT been opened to foreign travelers yet, this route has been open to traders from Nepal and China for much of the past year...
  24. ↑ "China Wants To Stretch Rail Network All The Way To Touch Bihar: Report". NDTV . 2016-05-24. Retrieved 2017-02-09. A cross-border railroad link to the Rasuwagadhi area in Nepal has already been discussed between the two countries.
  25. ↑ Prithvi Man Shrestha; Jaya Bahadur Rokaya (2016-03-24). "Nepal, China rush to open Hilsa border". Kathmandu Post . Retrieved 2017-02-10. Hilsa is one of the six border points Nepal and China had agreed to open for international trade when former Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jibao visited Kathmandu in 2012.
  26. ↑ Budhathoki, Kishor (2008-06-04). "China seals border, villages on Nepali side face starvation". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 2017-02-13. Starvation looms large in the northern parts of Sankhuwasabha district after China closed the Kimathanka check post
  27. ↑ "Beijing to reopen fourth border point with Nepal". Kathmandu Post. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  28. ↑ "Korala check point opens for all Mustang folks". The Himalayan Times. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  29. ↑ "News from China" (PDF). Chinese Embassy in India. Vol. XXVIII, no. 7. July 2016. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
  30. ↑ "Kodari Checkpoint To Open Today". The Spotlight Online. 2019-05-29. Retrieved 2019-06-28.

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