On Wednesday, Nepalese publication The Kathmandu Post reported that Nepal and China are engaged in a boundary row in Humla after the Chinese side allegedly built 11 buildings in a remote part of the district that Nepal claims as its own territory. The report also said that a pillar that defined the Nepal-China boundary was missing from the area. "There was just a hut in the area in 2005," Dattaraj Hamal, assistant chief district officer of Humla who visited the disputed area recently, was quoted as saying by the publication. "I talked to the people there and reported to the chief district officer," Hamal said. "He, in turn, reported to the home ministry. He now has gone to the area as per the home ministry's instructions."
Beijing has maintained that the constructions were carried out on the Chinese side of the border. The Chinese embassy in Kathmandu refuted the allegations and said the buildings were constructed on the Chinese side of the border. "The government of China has conducted necessary investigation into the matter and the Nepal government can also do so if needed," said a statement issued by the embassy. "China and Nepal have no territorial disputes. The two sides have always maintained close communication on border affairs," the statement said. "China and Nepal are friendly neighbours. China has always respected Nepal's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
At the same time, civil society groups in Nepal have launched protests against China. The activists chanted slogans such as "Return Nepal's land" and "stop Chinese expansionism", it said.
-Inputs from agencies
