KATHMANDU, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Nepal has no interest in joining a U.S.-led strategy to contain China's rise, a senior political leader has said.
Chandra Prakash Mainali, general secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), called the Indo-Pacific Strategy pushed forward by the United States a purely China containment strategy.
"To check and obstruct the development of China, they mobilized coastal countries of the Pacific Ocean. They later added the Indian Ocean," he told Xinhua. "They want to mobilize all the Indo-Pacific countries against the development of China. This is the main intent of the Indo-Pacific Strategy."
The U.S. attempt to counter China "will never succeed as their interests are unjust and self-motivated," he said.
"China is not focused on hegemonic activities, (but) rather it is focused on collective investment, mutual benefit and win-win principles through a democratic manner and transparency. They are always committed to these principles," Mainali added, saying the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative is committed to mutual benefits and collective investment.
Nepal should not become part of the U.S. strategy, he said, adding that although the Pentagon enlisted Nepal as a partner, government leaders were caught unaware.
"We had not been consulted," he said. "Nevertheless, they claim that Nepal has agreed to be a part of the Indo-Pacific Strategy. It is a very conflicting idea."
Mainali also called the U.S.-initiated trade war against China unfair, saying it goes against the principles of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The world has become more turbulent and uncertain after the United States waged a trade war against China by imposing unjustified tariffs on Chinese goods, said Mainali.
The trade war has not benefited China or the United States or any third country, Mainali said. "Instead, the trade war has wider negative ramifications around the world."
The United States is imposing unnecessary tariffs on goods from China, Europe and India to narrow its trade deficit, the leader said, adding that the move is now undermining international norms and principles of global trade.
"American leaders can think about making their country prosperous, that's fine. But they can't become so self-centered at the cost of other countries in the name of protecting their national interests," he said.
Mainali praised China's approach to handling the trade war, saying that China was forced to impose additional tariffs on U.S. goods in response.
"The trade war will have negative impact on the global economy. If the U.S. does not resolve this trade conflict through dialogue and consultation, more negative things will happen in the world harming peace and prosperity," Mainali said.
