Introduction
In recent years, China has significantly expanded its influence over Nepalese media, raising concerns about press freedom and foreign intervention in Nepal.
China's media influence in Nepal gained substantial momentum with the signing of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) agreement in 2017. Although the implementation of this agreement has faced delays due to internal disagreements within Nepal, it marked a significant milestone in China-Nepal relations. In 2018, China consolidated its media strategy under the China Media Group (CMG), which has played a crucial role in providing financial support and exerting editorial control over local outlets to promote Chinese interests.
The pinnacle of China's media influence in Nepal was reached during the tenure of Chinese Ambassador Hou Yanqi. During this period, efforts to promote Chinese interests and unify Nepal's leftist parties were intensified. The extent of this influence drew criticism from the US State Department, which accused China of spreading false information about the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), highlighting the broader geopolitical contest playing out in Nepal's media landscape.
China's Media Influence Strategies
1. Sponsored Trips and Educational Incentives
China has employed various strategies to influence Nepalese journalists, with sponsored trips being a primary tactic. By 2023, an estimated 9,000 Nepalese journalists had participated in all-expenses-paid trips to China. While ostensibly educational, these trips serve as subtle indoctrination tours, encouraging journalists to adopt pro-China narratives upon their return. As a result, many of these journalists tend to downplay critical issues such as democracy and freedom of expression, aligning more closely with Chinese interests.
Screengrab of the CSIFP report
In addition to trips, China has been funding the education of journalists' families. By offering scholarships and discounted educational opportunities at top Chinese universities for their children, China creates a favorable bias among journalists and prepares a new generation of pro-China Nepalese. This strategy not only influences current journalists but also ensures a continued pro-China stance in Nepalese journalism if these children choose to enter the media industry.
2. Establishment of Chinese Media Outlets
China has been actively establishing its own media outlets in Nepal, operated by Chinese nationals. These outlets benefit from substantial funding and advanced technology that are often out of reach for local Nepalese media houses. This technological and financial advantage allows Chinese outlets to dominate the media landscape, promoting narratives that serve China's strategic interests.
3. Embedding Chinese Nationals in Media Operations
China's efforts extend beyond individual journalists to the broader media ecosystem. By embedding Chinese nationals in media operations and investing in local media infrastructure, China ensures that its perspective is prominently featured in Nepal's media discourse. This comprehensive approach allows China to effectively shape public opinion and policy in Nepal to align with its geopolitical goals.
4. Propaganda Campaigns and Misinformation
Chinese media outlets in Nepal act as mouthpieces for Beijing, promoting Chinese policies and interests while subtly undermining competing influences, particularly from the US and India. These outlets not only disseminate content favorable to China but also actively promote misinformation to shape public opinion.
A notable instance of this strategy was the campaign against the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant from the United States. Chinese media and social media channels produced numerous videos and articles framing the MCC as a threat to Nepal's sovereignty. This campaign effectively fostered significant anti-MCC sentiment among the Nepalese populace.
The Center for Social Innovation and Foreign Policy (CSIFP) report highlighted the influence of a Facebook page run by the Nepali online portal operated by China Radio International. This page argued against the MCC, portraying it as a neo-colonial tool of the US. One of their videos amassed substantial engagement, with 430,000 views, 16,000 likes, 523 comments, and 4,400 shares, showcasing the extensive reach and impact of Chinese media operations in Nepal.
Impact on Nepalese Media
The impact of China's influence is evident in the shifting narratives within Nepalese media. As journalists and media outlets become increasingly aligned with Chinese viewpoints, critical issues related to democracy, freedom of expression, and human rights are often overshadowed by pro-China content. This strategic manipulation of media narratives underscores China's broader ambitions to expand its influence in South Asia and beyond.
Recent Confrontations and Backlash
The extent of China's media influence in Nepal was starkly illustrated on May 29th, when Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, Chen Song, faced backlash after demanding an apology from Nepali journalist Gajendra Budhathoki. Song was incensed by Budhathoki's report revealing that Chinese loans for the Pokhara International Airport were secured at higher interest rates than officials had disclosed.
Budhathoki reported that the interest rate was actually 5%, not the 2% claimed by officials. Despite the pressure from Ambassador Song, Budhathoki stood firm on his report, vowing to provide proof of his claims. This confrontation highlighted the extent of China's attempts to control narratives within Nepal's media landscape and the growing resistance from some Nepalese journalists.
Geopolitical Implications
China's increasing influence on Nepalese media has significant geopolitical implications. Beijing seeks to curtail the influence of the US and India and position itself as the dominant power in the region. This media strategy extends into the political sphere, where China has cultivated relationships with key political figures and parties in Nepal.
By reshaping media narratives and leveraging political alliances, China is effectively positioning itself to control the regional geopolitical landscape, undermining competing influences and bolstering its own strategic interests. This ongoing struggle underscores the significant role media plays in shaping regional power dynamics.
Territorial Encroachment
While China has been expanding its media influence in Nepal, there have been concurrent reports of territorial encroachment. In February 2022, the Rashtriya Ekata Abhiyan submitted a memorandum to the United Nations, highlighting China's land encroachment in Humla, Nepal. The memorandum urged the international community to address China's aggressive land grabs in neighboring countries.
The issue is rooted in historical agreements, specifically the Boundary Protocol of 1963, which established the area between pillar number 5(2) and the middle of the Kit Khola as the border between Nepal and China. However, recent studies have revealed that China has erected fences and wires on Nepalese land, disregarding this protocol.
Moreover, reports indicate that China has restricted grazing activities for Nepalese farmers and imposed surveillance measures by Chinese security forces. These actions have curtailed religious activities in Lalungjong, a region on the Nepalese side of the border near the sacred Mount Kailash, revered by both Hindus and Buddhists.
Conclusion
China's growing influence on Nepalese media represents a complex and multifaceted challenge for Nepal's sovereignty, press freedom, and regional geopolitics. Through a combination of sponsored trips, educational incentives, media investments, and propaganda campaigns, China has systematically expanded its control over Nepal's media narrative. This influence extends beyond the media sphere, impacting political relationships and even manifesting in territorial encroachments. As Nepal navigates these challenges, it faces the difficult task of balancing its relationships with China, India, and the United States while preserving its own interests and sovereignty.
The situation underscores the need for robust international attention and support to help Nepal maintain its independence and foster a free and diverse media landscape. As China continues to assert its influence in South Asia, the outcome of this media struggle in Nepal may have far-reaching implications for the region's geopolitical future.
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