The “Gen Z” protest movement that toppled Nepal’s government last week has sent shockwaves around the region. On Chinese social media, prominent nationalist accounts argued that the U.S. was behind the protests, while others pushed back against these claims. — Aneka (奥妮卡） (@anekarebeccaraj) September 10, 2025In banning numerous foreign social media apps, the Nepalese government had attempted to use a censorship playbook commonly associated with China. Compared to populous countries such as India and China, Nepal had less political and commercial leverage to force compliance by foreign social media companies. [Source]These geopolitical calculations have become familiar for China following political upheaval elsewhere in the region over recent months.