Nepal, China begin first-ever joint drills

Nepal and China have embarked on a 10-day military drill as ties between the two neighbors deepen amid India’s diminishing influence in the region.

The military exercises, the first held between the two countries in history, began in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu on Sunday.

Officials said the drill will focus on counter-terrorism and is dubbed "Sagarmatha Friendship 2017", a reference to the Nepalese terms for the iconic Mount Everest.

The drills come amid increasing rivalry between China and India for supremacy in the region. China's Defense Minister Chang Wanquan visited Kathmandu last month to supervise the preparations for the joint drills. The trip was the first by a Chinese defense minister in 15 years.

However, Nepal’s military spokesman denied that the drill was a sign of China’s increasing influence in Nepal, a country sandwiched between China and India which has historically looked southwards to India to meet its needs.

“This is in line with our efforts to hold joint exercises with countries that have diplomatic relations with Nepal,” said Jhankar Bahadur.

Tanka Karki, a former Nepali ambassador to China, said the joint military exercises could drastically affect the relationship between Nepal and China.

"Nepal and China share a multi-faceted tie and a joint military exercise broadens that relationship," he said.

SS