Nepal calls off Tibetan studies conference, debate over Chinese influence intensifies
The International Association for Tibetan Studies (IATS) has said its scholarly conference scheduled for August 23-29 in Kathmandu was cancelled at the request of the Nepal government. The decision, which organisers described as unexpected, has sparked debate over whether Kathmandu succumbed to pressure from Beijing or acted on its own to avoid straining ties with its northern neighbour.
The conference was expected to bring together around 700 scholars, including researchers from China. The Himalaya Centre for Asian Studies at Kathmandu University, the local organiser, said the event had to be called off on government instructions. However, Nepal's government has not issued any official statement on the cancellation.
In the weeks before the decision, the conference was discussed at a senior diplomatic level. An official at Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Chinese Ambassador Zhang Maoming had 'discussed' the event with Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai in the third week of July. The official described the discussion as 'peripheral' and added that the ministry had informally asked the Chinese envoy whether Beijing had any specific concerns. The official did not say China had asked for the cancellation, but the account confirms that Kathmandu was seeking to ascertain Beijing's position.
Rupak Sapkota, who holds a PhD in International Relations from Renmin University of China, said the cancellation was linked to Chinese concerns, though he distinguished between Beijing directly demanding the event be stopped and Nepal pre-emptively reacting to perceived pressure. 'I believe the Chinese concern was serious. Yet, instead of Beijing asking to stop the event, Nepal came under pressure, Nepal felt pressure,' he said. 'The concerns may not have amounted to stopping the event, but could have made the Nepal government rethink the decision, given its own plethora of issues amid a changing geopolitical order.'
China has long maintained that Tibet is an inseparable part of its territory and has voiced disquiet over events that could draw attention to the region's political status. Nepal has historically taken care to prevent its soil from being used for activities Beijing would view as hostile. The country is home to roughly 12,000 Tibetan refugees, and several others transit through Nepal to India, where the Dalai Lama lives in exile. Nepali security agencies closely monitor protests by Tibetan refugees, and the government has repeatedly said it will not allow activities on its territory directed against friendly nations.
The sensitivity also extends to events involving the Dalai Lama. While his birthday is marked inside monasteries and schools in Nepal, this year's celebration drew criticism from at least seven former Nepali ambassadors to China after some Western diplomats attended openly. Sapkota noted that with discussions about the Dalai Lama's succession, Chinese sensitivities are natural. 'In this regard, though a purely scholarly event, its Tibetan connection put Nepal under pressure,' he said.
The cancellation has raised questions about academic freedom and the extent of Chinese influence in Nepal, which has deepened in recent years through infrastructure projects and economic engagement. Kathmandu maintains that its decisions are made based on national interest, but the lack of an official explanation has left room for speculation. The IATS called the move an unwarranted interference in a purely academic event, but Nepal's government has not responded to that charge. Analysts say the episode underscores the delicate balancing act Nepal faces between its ties with China and its tradition of hosting international academic exchanges.
