China lodged a protest with Nepal after a college in the Himalayan nation burned hundreds of copies of Xi Jinping’s book over the weekend.
The Governance of China was apparently burned along with several other texts at the Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic in Morang.
A video circulating on Nepali social media shows copies of Mr Xi’s book, with the Chinese leader’s picture on the cover, being tossed into a bonfire.
The Governance of China, published in 2014, compiles Mr Xi’s speeches setting out his blueprint for the country’s governance, economic direction and global ambitions. It wasn’t known why the college housed hundreds of copies of the book.
Dean Rekha Shrestha reportedly claimed the “termite-infested” books had been lying unused for years whereas the administration said that junior staff burned the books and other documents to clear space in the lab room.
In the wake of the incident, the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu sent a note to Nepal's foreign ministry urging an investigation and prompt action against those involved. This prompted home minister Oman Prakash Aryal to instruct Morang district officials and police to investigate the incident and take action.
Chief district officer Yuvaraj Kattel sought a written explanation from the college and deployed police after crowds gathered.
Nepal “cannot tolerate such incidents” given its close relations with China, he said, adding that authorities were working to establish the facts".
“Since this is a sensitive issue, we are trying to find out the truth," he told The Kathmandu Post.
The incident was first reported by Sonu Kumar Das of Live News Raftar who allegedly saw people holding copies of Mr Xi's book up to the camera before throwing them into the flames.
“On Saturday evening, I got a message from someone that the college is going to burn down some documents. Initially the college administration didn’t allow us to enter the college premises. Later, some students took me inside the college building where those books and other items were set on fire,” the reporter said.
“I was astonished that such a large number of copies of the book by Xi Jinping were burnt down.”
After the video went viral, Mr Kattel allegedly telephoned the Live News Rafter office and asked them to delete it, saying it could harm Nepal-China relations.
The incident triggered calls on social media by Nepali users to hold people who burned the books accountable to avoid souring relations with China.
The episode is an early diplomatic test for newly elected prime minister Balender Shah who faces the delicate task of balancing the country's ties with India and China.
"Enough is enough, we cannot promote such nonsense. We should not create unnecessary tension with our neighbouring country. These actions only fuel aggression and division," one user, Aashika Poudel, said on Facebook.
Another user, Bijaya Thapa, who obtained the video, asked: “Why did such activities take place? Where were those thousands of books brought from, and for what purpose were they burned? Authorities should pay serious attention to this matter.”
The Independent has contacted the college for comment.
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