Not to rain on your enthusiastic parade, the BRI does have considerable baggage in many countries vis à vis its administration, accountability, transparency, efficiency and accomplishment of planned goals. An abbreviated list of issues includes the following:
China
• Geostrategic compulsion
• Non-adherence to local protocols
• Low quality and standard of work
• Wasteful spending, environmental destruction
• Quantity over quality
• Expediency over transparency
• Persuading unfair agreements
• Fraud and corruption of several Chinese companies, debarring them from World Bank contracts; yet those companies were involved in BRI in some countries
• Bribery
Nepal
• Delays
• Strikes
• Local backlash due to displacement and relocation of residents – no FPIC
• The realism of decisions ensuring that projects be near the political proponents’ electoral area so as to appease the electorate for increasing political power
Unexpected change in bilateral and geopolitical relationship
I am not suggesting that serious bilateral collaboration is unwarranted; but for a realistic agreement, the process of conducting negotiations and subsequent implementation requires considerably more attentiveness, prioritization of Nepal, implementation protocols to include Free Prior Informed Consent of potentially affected communities, clarity on numbers, types and length of required service of Chinese vs. Nepali staff; interdisciplinary planning; and—among a myriad of other components—ensuring that whatever work is agreed to cannot be compromised by another country!
Dear Ivan, thank you for your very thoughtful comment. I agree that there are numerous concerns that Nepal will need to keep in mind while implementing projects under the BRI. There are risks that we should be cognizant of and we should definitely prioritize our own interests before that of a neighbor.
That said, I don't consider Oli's signing of the framework too momentous but I'm sure he and his supporters do. As always, it is up to Nepal to maintain its own priorities and strategic balance when dealing with powerful neighbors. I hope our leaders are able to take advantage of the opportunities while maintaining our sovereignty and values. Easier said than done, of course!
Quick correction on NMKP's win being surprising, the only reason they lost in the last election was because of a strategic alliance between the three major parties. NMKP has some presence in Dailekh, Kalikot and Jumla districts. In the 90s, two of their MPs from the region defected to Congress and UML, so they are not big in the region as they used to be.
Also you probably meant former tourism minister Jeevan Bahadur Shahi not Jeevan Ram Shrestha.
Dear Dirghayu, thank you for your comment. Yes, you're right, NMKP does have some presence outside of Bhaktapur but it is always surprising to me that such a regional party is making in-roads outside of its traditional enclave.
You're also right concerning Jeevan Bahadur Shahi. Apologies for that oversight and thank you so much for pointing out the mistake. I have corrected it in the text.
Once you introduce the concept of "opportunity cost", i.e., there is no such things like free lunch in economics, the ongoing Grant vs. Loan debate ceases to exist.
Not to rain on your enthusiastic parade, the BRI does have considerable baggage in many countries vis à vis its administration, accountability, transparency, efficiency and accomplishment of planned goals. An abbreviated list of issues includes the following:
China
• Geostrategic compulsion
• Non-adherence to local protocols
• Low quality and standard of work
• Wasteful spending, environmental destruction
• Quantity over quality
• Expediency over transparency
• Persuading unfair agreements
• Fraud and corruption of several Chinese companies, debarring them from World Bank contracts; yet those companies were involved in BRI in some countries
• Bribery
Nepal
• Delays
• Strikes
• Local backlash due to displacement and relocation of residents – no FPIC
• The realism of decisions ensuring that projects be near the political proponents’ electoral area so as to appease the electorate for increasing political power
• Overambitious plans
• Bureaucratic red tape
• Emerging sociocultural, political, economic issues
• Untenable debt
• Tension between Nepali and Chinese workers
• Bribery
Both
Unexpected change in bilateral and geopolitical relationship
I am not suggesting that serious bilateral collaboration is unwarranted; but for a realistic agreement, the process of conducting negotiations and subsequent implementation requires considerably more attentiveness, prioritization of Nepal, implementation protocols to include Free Prior Informed Consent of potentially affected communities, clarity on numbers, types and length of required service of Chinese vs. Nepali staff; interdisciplinary planning; and—among a myriad of other components—ensuring that whatever work is agreed to cannot be compromised by another country!
Dear Ivan, thank you for your very thoughtful comment. I agree that there are numerous concerns that Nepal will need to keep in mind while implementing projects under the BRI. There are risks that we should be cognizant of and we should definitely prioritize our own interests before that of a neighbor.
That said, I don't consider Oli's signing of the framework too momentous but I'm sure he and his supporters do. As always, it is up to Nepal to maintain its own priorities and strategic balance when dealing with powerful neighbors. I hope our leaders are able to take advantage of the opportunities while maintaining our sovereignty and values. Easier said than done, of course!
Quick correction on NMKP's win being surprising, the only reason they lost in the last election was because of a strategic alliance between the three major parties. NMKP has some presence in Dailekh, Kalikot and Jumla districts. In the 90s, two of their MPs from the region defected to Congress and UML, so they are not big in the region as they used to be.
Also you probably meant former tourism minister Jeevan Bahadur Shahi not Jeevan Ram Shrestha.
Dear Dirghayu, thank you for your comment. Yes, you're right, NMKP does have some presence outside of Bhaktapur but it is always surprising to me that such a regional party is making in-roads outside of its traditional enclave.
You're also right concerning Jeevan Bahadur Shahi. Apologies for that oversight and thank you so much for pointing out the mistake. I have corrected it in the text.
Once you introduce the concept of "opportunity cost", i.e., there is no such things like free lunch in economics, the ongoing Grant vs. Loan debate ceases to exist.