India-China-Nepal Triangular Relations

This paper seeks to examine the dynamics of the triangular relations between China, India and Nepal. It analyses the dynamics of competition and cooperation between China and India over Nepal. It also throws light on the Nepal as a strategic bridge between the two big powers - China and India. China has recently intensified its efforts to woo Nepal and engage with it. To improve relations with Nepal, China has intensified its efforts at the political, economic and strategic level with the tiny Himalayan nation. Nepal was and still is trapped between competing interests of China and India. Nepal is being expected to play a geopolitically strategic role between India and China. Many analysts are of the observation that Nepal is strategically important to both India and China in that they see Nepal like a buffer and therefore wish that this remained in function for their multifaceted relationships. Nepal being a buffer is very natural when it is situated between two big and powerful countries. That’s why interims of military and economically big countries always have wanted to control a weak and poor periphery country to get regional leadership hegemony.