Nepal is recovering from the devastating flash floods along its border with China, underscoring the shared challenges facing the Himalayan region. At the same time, Kathmandu's new government under Prime Minister Balendra Shah is pursuing a "Nepal First" and development-focused foreign policy, seeking closer ties with both India and China while avoiding being drawn into their strategic rivalry. As India offers disaster assistance and Nepal continues to expand cooperation with Beijing, the tragedy has also highlighted the importance of cross-border coordination, climate resilience and regional diplomacy. Can Nepal strengthen relations with both of its powerful neighbors without compromising its strategic autonomy? In this episode, we examine how the floods are influencing regional diplomacy, Nepal's evolving ties with India and China, and what Kathmandu's balancing strategy could mean for the Himalayas and the wider Indo-Pacific.
*Recorded on August 27, 2026 at 2pm Taiwan Standard Time
Host: Wen-Ti Sung
Producer: Suvam Pal
Videographer: Celest Kao
Our guests:
Sumit Kumar
- Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Visiting Fellow at National Chengchi University
Pramod Jaiswal
- Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement Research Director
Atul K. Thakur
- Author and Columnist
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