MCC Agreement & Disinformation Surge in Nepal
In September 2017, the U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)[1] signed a $500 million grant agreement with the Government of Nepal. The MCC-Nepal Compact aims to increase the availability and reliability of electricity, maintain road quality, and facilitate regional trade – helping to spur investments, accelerate economic growth, and reduce poverty. Due to some obstructions and changes in the Nepal government, the approval got delayed. Finally, the Parliament ratified the MCC compact on Feb 27th, 2022.
Possible Benefits to Nepal as per U.S. Embassy in Nepal
- Strengthening economic growth, expanding the energy sector, and creating business opportunities.
- Widely available and reliable electricity and safer roads.
- Construction of power lines generated by Nepalese hydropower resources to over two-thirds of the homes and businesses across Nepal.
- Increased access to clean energy while protecting the climate.[HB1]
As the MCC Compact has been tabled in Nepal’s parliament, anti-MCC stories, disinformation, and paranoid ideas have filled in both: real and virtual spaces. YouTube videos and other social media posts with clickbait titles and disinformation in regards to MCC have become apparent like never before. The Compact is currently buried in unfortunate politicization and public misguided judgment. Ratification of the MCC Compact has surged disinformation wave in Nepal, this report is an effort of debunking the disinformation and hoaxes.
Disinformation Case 1 – 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][F2] , 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.
[1] https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202202/1253492.shtml
[HB1]If it’s coming from US embassy in Nepal, should be referenced.
[F2]The footnote 16 doesn’t carry the Article 7 screenshot that has been pasted below. Hence this statement and the reference both are not right.
[1] https://np.usembassy.gov/mcc-in-nepal-top-ten-facts/#:~:text=The%20MCC%2DNepal%20Compact%20aims,economic%20growth%2C%20and%20reduce%20poverty