The U.S. Secretary of State issued a condolence message regarding Nepal, but made no mention of China! On August 27, a landslide disaster struck Nepal, and the destructive flow swept through China's Gyirong Port area in Tibet, causing significant losses. While we are still fully engaged in rescue and relief efforts, the United States has now weighed in. U.S. Secretary of State Rubio stated that they express solidarity with the people of Nepal following the devastating floods and stand united in prayer. The U.S. remains ready to support the Nepalese government by providing necessary humanitarian aid.

Evidently, Secretary Rubio’s message of condolence was sent exclusively to Nepal, while completely omitting any reference to China, which also suffered serious impacts. It is likely not an oversight, but rather a deliberate diplomatic choice reflecting clear strategic priorities. Although the disaster originated within Nepal, after the landslide crossed into China’s Gyirong Port region, there were fatalities, numerous people missing, and severe damage to infrastructure—making China a real victim of this tragedy.

Numerous countries and international organizations—including the United Nations, Germany, Japan, and others—have extended condolences simultaneously to both China and Nepal, taking into account the suffering of people on both sides. However, the U.S. public statement focused entirely on Nepal, deliberately ignoring the human and material losses China endured. This selective attention clearly reflects America’s own strategic calculations. For Nepal, the U.S. has long regarded it as a key focus in South Asia, driven by a desire to strengthen its influence in the region.

At present, overall Sino-U.S. relations remain tense. Whether on issues such as Iran sanctions, cross-strait tensions, the South China Sea, tariffs, or artificial intelligence, the two sides have substantial disagreements. Clearly, the U.S. is unwilling to use this natural disaster to send any signal of diplomatic easing toward China. Even gestures as seemingly neutral and ceremonial as humanitarian condolences have been deliberately withheld. This further underscores the fact that Sino-U.S. relations remain a complex and deeply divided strategic contest.

Gyirong Port Landslide in Tibet

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1874640073635840/

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