Chinese Embassy Strongly Refutes Bribery Rumors Involving Journalists, Demands Investigation and Action

Kathmandu – The Chinese Embassy in Nepal has issued a strong rebuttal of rumors circulating on social media alleging that a Chinese national attempted to bribe several Nepali journalists to produce negative coverage against a particular politician. In a spokesperson’s statement published Monday on its official Facebook page, the Embassy branded the rumors as “an act of deliberate denigration of China” and condemned them in the strongest terms.

“The Chinese side is deeply shocked to learn of the rumors you mentioned, and categorically rejects them. We strongly condemn such acts of deliberate denigration of China,” the statement read.

Reiteration of the Non-Interference Principle

The statement forcefully reiterated the principle of non-interference, widely regarded as a cornerstone of China’s foreign policy. “I must emphasize that China has always been adhering to the principle of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs, has been consistently and firmly supporting Nepal’s efforts in safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and has been actively supporting Nepal’s political stability, economic development, and improvement of people’s livelihood,” the Embassy stated.

In a significant diplomatic move, the Embassy urged relevant Nepali authorities to conduct “a serious, in-depth and thorough investigation” into the rumors and to “severely punish those directly involved in them as well as those behind them in accordance with the Nepali law.” The statement further expressed China’s readiness to “strengthen law enforcement and security cooperation with the Nepali side to safeguard the shared interests of our two countries.”

“Let Reason and Wisdom Put an End to Rumors”

The Embassy concluded its statement with an appeal for goodwill and cooperation. “Let reason and wisdom put an end to rumors,” the statement said. “We believe all Nepali friends will see right from wrong, and will work together with us to contribute to promoting the traditional friendship and cooperation between China and Nepal.”

Mixed Reactions and Analyst Commentary

The Embassy’s statement has generated mixed reactions within Nepal’s political circles and on social media platforms. While some have interpreted it as a routine reaffirmation of China’s traditional non-interference policy, others have described the demand for an investigation and punishment over an unverified incident as unusual and suggestive of interference in Nepal’s internal affairs.

International relations analysts have interpreted the statement as a calculated piece of diplomatic communication. According to them, by responding forcefully to a relatively minor and unverified rumor, China may be seeking to signal its presence and sensitivities at a low political cost. At the same time, China’s public silence on larger structural disputes—such as the progress of Belt and Road Initiative projects or reported complications involving Chinese contractors in major infrastructure undertakings—has made this instance of selective activism a subject of closer scrutiny.

The episode has once again highlighted the sensitive and multi-layered nature of the diplomatic relationship between Nepal and China. The Government of Nepal has not yet issued any official response on the matter.