China gaining ground in Madhes

In 2018, a visit by then China’s Ambassador Yu Hong to Janakpur, the capital of Madhes Province, raised eyebrows. Usually, ambassadors travel for events or for a holiday, but this visit felt different. Unlike typical ambassadorial trips, Yu’s focused on distributing disaster relief under China Aid. This sparked curiosity about China’s growing interest in Nepal’s Tarai region, which traditionally has closer ties with India due to open borders and constant movement of people and goods. Hong’s visit to Janakpur was a sign that China was changing its approach.

More recently in May, current Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song visited Madhes again.  He attended the launch of a new program in Barahathawa Municipality called ‘Support for schools and communities in remote areas for Pandemic Prevention and Green Recovery’.  This China Aid initiative, partnered with the UNDP, will benefit 15,000 students and 7,500 families in Sarlahi and Rautahat districts.

China has initiated support to schools and communities in Madhes Province of Nepal, which is quite rare. This move was hugely welcomed by the local communities, which was witnessed in the way the Chinese team was greeted in the area. During his visit, Ambassador Song also announced two major projects of clean drinking water and solar light in the villages starting right from Madhes Province. 

From the provincial government representatives to local government heads, there was a unified voice that China’s support could be instrumental. Provincial Minister for Physical Infrastructures and Development Saroj Kumar Yadav thanked China for selecting Madhes Province and establishing new model projects, while Barahathawa Mayor Kalpana Kumari Katuwal said that the support could bring positive changes in the lives of the general public. 

The ambassador and his team received similar welcoming gestures from the school and community representatives. Some even suggested opening Chinese language centers or establishing sister-city relations among Tarai towns and Chinese cities.

This wasn’t China’s first project in Madhes though. In 2018, China Aid supported 31,800 flood-affected families in seven Tarai districts, including Sarlahi, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Rautahat, and Parsa, through the Post-Flood Recovery Program. Similarly, a Chinese NGO helped establish over 100 wash stations and isolation centers during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Though the Tarai has no language or cultural symmetry with China as it has with India, it is noteworthy that many students from the region have been studying in Chinese universities under various scholarship programs. These scholarship programs, along with development and disaster relief programs, highlight China's growing interest in the region.

Asked whether there is a gap between China and Madhes, Ambassador Song denied there was one. He said China is willing to support Madhes just like any other provinces of Nepal. According to him, China sees potential in agriculture and industry, offering support in health and education. 

“I think Madhes Province is very promising in these two areas. It needs more help, development and cooperation. That’s my impression,” he said.

His visit to schools suggests a shift towards public diplomacy, building connections with the people of Tarai. 

There are already signs of Chinese economic interest in the region too. Chinese companies have set up small-scale industries in Bara. The Chinese ambassador and his team visited a construction site under the Package 5 of the Kathmandu-Tarai/Madhes Fast Track, which is assigned to CMCE/SDLQ JV, China, and thanked the contractors for the substantial progress. 

These latest developments, along with Song’s positive remarks on Madhes’ potential, indicate a more active Chinese role in the future.

It is clear that China is no longer content with its traditional approach to diplomacy, that it is gradually coming out from the G2G diplomatic engagements and trying to put people-to-people relationship at the center of its diplomacy. 

While Nepal strives to maintain neutrality in its relations with India and China, Madhes Province can benefit from development assistance offered by both neighbors. China’s cautious and pragmatic approach seems to be winning hearts, and the future holds promise for deeper cooperation between China and Madhes.

The author is a freelance journalist