China sees MCC as a threat to Nepal & China’s relation
China is worrying about impeding the U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) concurrence with the Government of Nepal. According to the Chinese news agencies, Global Times, and South China Morning Post, it can be seen that Chinese people see this MCC project as a threat to Nepal and China’s relations. According to the Global Times[1][F1] , the aid is intended to increase the US military presence in South Asia, or is tied to other forms of political coercion for its geopolitical goals, China firmly opposes it.
Screenshot of the article by Global Times
Screenshot of the article by South China Morning Post
Website Analysis
We conducted digital forensic analysis to check the authenticity of the websites, South China Morning Post and the Global Times, using an open source tool, Snopes.com.
Through digital forensic analysis we found that the South China Morning Post is left-center biased, based on editorial positions that moderately favor the left, and it is “mixed” for factual reporting due to poor sourcing. This information is illustrated below.
South China Morning Post
Our Forensic analysis of the South China Morning Post website
Global Time China
After analysis we rate Global Times ‘Questionable’ based on the promotion of Pro-Chinese Government propaganda. This information is presented pictorially below.
Our forensic analysis of the Global Times website
Clarification Of Nepal PM on MCC Agreement
On 14th March, 2022 Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba clarified that MCC approval is for welfare of Nepal despite country-wide protests carried out by Nepali citizens.
Source
https://risingnepaldaily.com/main-news/mcc-in-countrys-welfare-pm-deuba
China Clarification on Nepal MCC Approval
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin hosted a regular press conference[4] on the 18th, he said “As Nepal’s friendly close neighbor and development partner, China will, as always, support the Nepalese people in choosing their development path independently, support Nepal in making the right choice in keeping with its national interests and people’s will, and continue to provide assistance and support for the country’s socioeconomic development to the best of our capability.”
Sources
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin’s Regular Press Conference on 18th February, 2022.
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/QhMvThoLL-iVGNfnWIJUGA
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/vr1wMSNySajlJyWsqrquTg
[4] https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/2511_665403/202202/t20220218_10643446.html
Rating
Partial False Information
After analysis it is found that China has shown a green signal to Nepal MCC Agreement as their own choice. China only highlighted Article 7 Section 7.1 of the MCC Agreement which shows involvement of USA in Nepal’s Internal Affairs, Global Times website and South China Morning post web articles are misguiding people about China’s resentment on MCC Nepal, on the other hand Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin’s Regular Press Conference on 18th February, 2022 says the otherwise, Wang Wenbin said “As Nepal’s friendly close neighbor and development partner, China will, as always, support the Nepalese people “. While ongoing Anti-MCC protests in Nepal shows that the Nepali nation is not happy about MCC Agreement.