In a troubling escalation of China’s sharp power tactics in South Asia, Chinese Ambassador Chen Song has once again sparked outrage in Nepal, using Nepali media to broadcast an aggressive anti-American narrative that goes far beyond diplomatic norms. By openly attacking the United States and celebrating China’s geopolitical ambitions, Chen has positioned himself not merely as a representative of China but as an enforcer of Beijing’s neo-imperialism — weaponizing Nepal’s fragile geopolitical space as a stage for China’s Wolf Warrior diplomacy.

Chen’s latest article, titled Why the World Must Say “No” to the United States Undermining the International Order, appeared not in a Chinese outlet, but in a prominent Nepali publication, aiming directly at Nepal’s domestic audience. While diplomats traditionally respect the sovereignty of their host country and avoid meddling in third-party affairs, Chen’s rhetoric breaks these protocols, using Nepal as a platform to challenge a global democratic power — the United States — and intensify regional polarization. His language is not the language of careful diplomacy; it is the language of coercive diplomacy, layered with historical revisionism, emotional nationalism, and geopolitical pressure.

Chen frames the United States as the villain of the world order, blaming it for sanctions, wars, and multilateral breakdowns. He claims that China, by contrast, is the guardian of fairness, equality, and global stability. What he leaves out is China’s own well-documented use of debt-trap diplomacy, salami-slicing tactics at borders, three warfares strategy (media, lawfare, and psychological warfare), and an ever-growing apparatus of digital authoritarianism. Nepal knows these pressures firsthand, from the Pokhara International Airport — controversially claimed by Chen himself as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) despite no formal agreement — to the search operations China demanded in the Trisuli River, bypassing Nepal’s own sovereignty.

Most disturbingly, Chen’s campaign uses information laundering: dressing Chinese propaganda in the voice of “local concerns,” praising Nepal for its loyalty to China’s One-China policy, and subtly warning against deviation. This is not simple public diplomacy; it is an attempt to turn Nepali voices into amplifiers of China’s global messaging, without honest dialogue about its costs, risks, and local impacts.

Many in Nepal’s civil society and media have begun questioning why a foreign ambassador should so openly interfere in issues unrelated to Nepal-China bilateral ties. Analysts warn that Chen’s approach risks making Nepal a frontline pawn in the growing US-China rivalry — a dangerous position for a small democracy sandwiched between two giants, China and India. Nepal’s delicate diplomatic balancing act is strained each time Beijing’s envoys push beyond trade and development into ideological battlegrounds.

There are legitimate conversations to be had about US influence, global power imbalances, and the failures of the Western-led international order. But those conversations should come from the people of Nepal, not from a foreign envoy using Nepali platforms to score points against another superpower. Chen Song’s behavior is emblematic of China’s sharp power playbook: undermining democratic debate, spreading one-sided narratives, and extending its influence through coercion masked as friendship.

As Nepal grapples with the aftermath of devastating floods in Rasuwagadhi — another example of questionable Chinese infrastructure and opaque cross-border river management — Chen’s aggressive rhetoric feels not like solidarity, but like distraction. Instead of addressing concerns over construction quality, safety, or local accountability, the Chinese ambassador is busy lecturing Nepal about global justice, as defined by Beijing.

The Nepal government must now ask difficult but necessary questions: How much room will Nepal allow foreign diplomats to maneuver inside its domestic discourse? At what point does soft power turn into hard pressure? And how can Nepal protect its sovereignty, not just territorially, but informationally and politically, in an era of great power rivalry?

The world is watching, but more importantly, the people of Nepal are watching. Will Nepal’s leaders assert that diplomatic missions respect their boundaries, or will they allow foreign envoys to hijack Nepal’s media space as a battlefield for global propaganda wars? In the rising tide of sharp power, staying silent is no longer neutral — it is submission.

---

---

Why the World Must Say “No” to the United States Undermining the International Order

Chen Song

As the world faces unprecedented transformations not seen in a century, humanity stands at a crossroads. People across the globe, especially in developing nations, are calling for peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit. They seek collective solutions to global challenges to improve human welfare. Yet, some nations are moving against this tide, violating international norms and destabilizing the hard-won international order — raising serious concerns and strong opposition among global citizens.

The United States has emerged as the primary disruptor of this order. Driven by hegemonic ambitions and power politics, the U.S. has repeatedly bullied smaller nations, imposed unilateral sanctions, and provoked trade, technology, and financial conflicts worldwide. Its actions — motivated by national self-interest — reveal a harsh reality: the U.S.-led “international order” is merely a tool for advancing American priorities. When U.S. interests clash with international norms, it does not hesitate to abandon rules, even at the cost of undermining global strategic stability.

The current international order was not a natural evolution but a structure forged from the painful lessons of two world wars. After World War II, the United Nations-centered system was established to preserve peace and development. Its principles — sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs, and peaceful dispute resolution — became cornerstones of global stability. Within this system, countries large and small, rich or poor, share equal voices and rights, enabling fair and institutionalized global governance.

However, in recent years, the United States has departed from this framework. It has unilaterally withdrawn from UNESCO and the UN Human Rights Council, torn up the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate agreement, and consistently placed itself above international law. This behavior is not only a rejection of the post-WWII order but also a direct threat to global peace and development. Left unchecked, it risks plunging the world into a new era of lawless competition.

China, having made immense sacrifices in the global anti-fascist struggle, has become a key defender of the international order. It remains committed to upholding the UN Charter, participating in global governance, and advancing a “community of shared future for mankind.”

On Taiwan, Chen argues that the United States is deliberately provoking tensions. He cites historic agreements — the Cairo Declaration (1943), Potsdam Proclamation (1945), Japan’s surrender (1945), and UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 (1971) — as legal proof of China’s sovereignty over Taiwan. According to Chen, Taiwan has “always” been part of China, and no amount of U.S. support for “Taiwan independence” can change this legal and historical fact.

In recent years, Chen claims, the U.S. has distorted Resolution 2758’s meaning and emboldened separatist movements, threatening the international consensus on the One-China principle. But, he insists, “lies repeated a thousand times remain lies” — Taiwan’s reunification with China is inevitable.

Chen praises Nepal as an example for the world, noting its steadfast support for the One-China policy and UN Resolution 2758. He highlights China and Nepal’s enduring friendship, mutual support in multilateral affairs, and shared commitment to development. According to Chen, defending China-Nepal ties is synonymous with defending international justice.

Chen ends his article by calling on more countries to follow Nepal’s lead in upholding the UN-centered system and collectively resisting any attempts to erode the international order.

Sharp Power Chen Song