Mount Everest, also known as Mount Everest, is the highest mountain in the world at an altitude of about 8,848.86 meters. It is located on the border of China and Nepal and is part of the Himalayas. It is not only the dream of mountaineers and explorers, but also the national symbol and national honor of both countries. However, the ownership and height of this mountain have been disputed and disputed, leading to many diplomatic and scientific confrontations. This article will briefly introduce the history and current situation of the Everest controversy from three aspects: events, background and summary.
The origins of the Everest dispute can be traced back to the 19th century, when British colonists began a project called "geodesy" in order to survey the topography of the Indian subcontinent. In the process, they discovered a mountain with a height of more than 8,000 meters and named it "Everest" in honor of George Everest, the then Surveying Governor of India. The name circulated in the Western world for nearly a century until 1954, when the Chinese government officially declared the mountain's Chinese name "Mount Everest", which means "mother of goddesses."
The name is translated according to the Tibetan pronunciation and meaning, as Mount Everest is located within the territory of the Tibet Autonomous Region. The Nepalese side calls the mountain "Sagarmatha", which means "top of the sky". The name is translated from the Nepali pronunciation and meaning as Mount Everest is also located within the territory of Nepal.
One of the focal points of the Everest controversy is the question of the ownership of the mountain. According to the 1890 Sino-British Himalayan Boundary Treaty, the main peak of Mount Everest belongs to China, and the southern slope belongs to Nepal. This division was confirmed by China and Nepal in 1956. However, this division has not been recognized by Western countries, who still consider Everest to belong entirely to Nepal because they consider the Sino-British Himalayan Boundary Treaty to be an unequal treaty without Nepal's participation and consent.
As a result, climbers and media in Western countries often only report on the south face of Mount Everest, ignoring the north face of Mount Everest. This has led to the false impression that Mount Everest is exclusive to Nepal and that China is just a bystander. In fact, both the north and south slopes of Mount Everest have their own characteristics and difficulties, both of which attract countless climbers and tourists. Both China and Nepal have the right and responsibility to manage and protect the natural environment and cultural heritage of Mount Everest.
Another focus of the Everest controversy is the issue of the mountain's height. Due to the complex topography of Mount Everest, climate change, and differences in measurement methods and standards, there has been no unified answer to the height of Mount Everest. Since the height of Mount Everest was first measured at 8,840 meters in 1856 and the latest measurement in 2020 is 8,848.86 meters, the height of Mount Everest has undergone many revisions and updates, involving the participation and cooperation of many countries and institutions.
Among them, the measurements of China and Nepal are the most interesting, as they represent the authority of the north and south slopes of Mount Everest, respectively. Measurements in China and Nepal are not always consistent and sometimes differ by several meters. This is mainly because they have different definitions of the apex of Mount Everest. China considers the apex of Mount Everest to refer to the rocky surface of the mountain, while Nepal considers the apex of Mount Everest to refer to the snow cover of the mountain. Both definitions have their plausibility and basis, but they have also led to discrepancies and controversies in the measurement results.
To address this issue, China and Nepal started a joint measurement program in 2019 with the aim of reaching a common height. This project was completed in 2020 and the height of Mount Everest was finally determined to be 8848.86 meters. This result has been recognized and praised by the international community and is regarded as a symbol of friendly cooperation and scientific progress between China and Nepal.
Behind the controversy over Mount Everest is the historical and current relationship between China and Nepal. China and Nepal are neighbors and friendly countries. Relations between the two countries date back to the 7th century AD, when China's Tang Dynasty and Nepal's Li Zhiyuan dynasty established diplomatic and trade ties. The relationship between the two countries has experienced many ups and downs and changes in history, but on the whole it has maintained a peaceful and friendly posture. The two countries have extensive and in-depth exchanges and cooperation in the fields of politics, economy, culture, religion, education, and tourism. The two countries also share similar positions and interests in international and regional affairs, supporting multilateralism, opposing hegemonism, safeguarding the rights and interests of developing countries, and promoting peace and development.
The Everest controversy is a complex topic involving history, politics, science, and culture. It reflects the friendly cooperation and mutual respect between China and Nepal, and also demonstrates the spirit of human exploration and challenge to the natural world. Mount Everest should not be a source of disagreement and strife between the two countries, but a bridge and link between the two countries. Mount Everest should not be the object of misunderstanding and prejudice in Western countries, but should become the common wealth and glory of all mankind.
The ultimate goal of the Everest dispute is not to compete for the ownership and height of a mountain, but to promote peace and development between the two countries and the world.