A diplomatic controversy has emerged between Nepal and China after reports surfaced that copies of a book written by Chinese President Xi Jinping were burned at a technical college in Nepal’s Morang district. According to reports the books included copies of The Governance of China, a widely circulated publication authored by Xi Jinping that outlines China’s governance philosophy and development strategy. The incident reportedly took place at Manmohan Technical College in Morang on Saturday night. Videos showing the books being burned quickly spread across social media platforms attracting attention both within Nepal and internationally. The symbolic act of burning books linked to a sitting head of state is often considered politically sensitive which is why the incident quickly drew reactions from officials and observers. As the footage circulated widely Nepalese authorities began taking steps to control the situation and prevent the issue from escalating into a larger diplomatic dispute.
China lodges diplomatic protest
Soon after the video began circulating online the Chinese government responded strongly to the incident. The Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu sent an official diplomatic note to Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressing serious concern over the burning of books written by President Xi Jinping. The embassy requested a detailed explanation from Nepalese authorities and urged them to take strict action against those responsible. The protest reflects the importance China places on the political writings of Xi Jinping whose book The Governance of China has been translated into several languages and distributed internationally as a representation of China’s political system and development model. Chinese officials consider actions targeting the book as disrespectful and potentially harmful to diplomatic relations. Diplomatic observers note that China maintains strong economic and strategic ties with Nepal which makes any incident involving the Chinese leadership particularly sensitive.
Nepal authorities request removal of viral videos
As the controversy intensified online Nepalese authorities moved quickly to limit the spread of the video showing the books being burned. Yuvraj Kattel the Chief District Officer of Morang requested media organisations and social media users to remove the footage from their platforms. According to officials the continued circulation of the video could negatively affect relations between Nepal and China. Authorities emphasised that the matter was already under investigation and urged the public to avoid sharing potentially inflammatory content. The request highlights the Nepalese administration’s concern that the situation could escalate if the footage continues to gain international attention.
Nepal government orders official investigation
The Nepalese government has ordered a formal investigation into the incident to determine the exact circumstances and identify those responsible. Nepal’s Interior Minister Om Prakash Aryal confirmed that an inquiry has been launched and assured that appropriate action will be taken if any wrongdoing is discovered. Officials said investigators will examine whether the burning of the books was intentional or simply part of routine disposal of unused materials. The government aims to clarify the situation in order to address concerns raised by China and maintain diplomatic stability between the two neighbouring countries.
Conflicting claims about the incident
The incident has sparked intense debate on social media where conflicting claims have emerged regarding the number of books burned and the motive behind the act. Some users alleged that thousands of copies were deliberately destroyed as a political gesture while others questioned how such a large number of copies had reached the college in the first place. However the administration of Manmohan Technical College has provided a different explanation. College officials stated that the books had been stored in the institution for several years and were no longer in use. According to them many copies were damaged by insects and had deteriorated over time which is why they were disposed of along with other unused materials. Despite this explanation the symbolic act of burning books associated with a foreign head of state has raised questions about whether proper procedures were followed.
Wider context of Nepal–China relations
The controversy comes at a time when several other issues have already drawn China’s attention regarding Nepal. Reports indicate that Beijing has been monitoring developments related to visits by Tibetan religious leaders to Nepal as the issue of Tibet remains highly sensitive for China. Another topic attracting attention is the management of Pokhara International Airport a major infrastructure project built with Chinese assistance. Discussions regarding the possible involvement of Chinese technology company Huawei in Nepal’s future 5G network development have also been closely watched. Against this backdrop the book burning incident has added another sensitive issue to Nepal–China relations highlighting how symbolic events can quickly gain geopolitical significance.
Possible diplomatic implications
Diplomatic analysts believe the issue may eventually be resolved through investigation and clarification but it demonstrates how symbolic actions can create international concern in the digital age. Burning books written by a sitting national leader can easily be interpreted as a political statement even if that was not the original intention. Nepal and China share close economic ties including trade and infrastructure cooperation making stable relations important for both countries. Nepal relies on Chinese investment and connectivity projects while China views Nepal as a strategic neighbour in South Asia. The investigation ordered by the Nepalese government is expected to determine whether the incident was an administrative disposal of unused materials or a deliberate act. The outcome of the inquiry will likely influence how the diplomatic situation develops in the coming weeks.
