In Nepal, a “Z Generation” protest broke out, leading to the downfall of the pro-Communist Nepalese Communist Party regime. Protesters climbed the flagpole at the party headquarters and tore down the party flag. The Prime Minister, who had just returned from attending a military parade in Beijing, resigned and fled, his whereabouts unknown. Overseas netizens are discussing on social media platforms, speculating on the diminishing ties between Nepal and the Chinese Communist Party, suggesting that Nepal may be the next to distance itself from China.
Nepali citizens demanded the government lift the ban on social media and crack down on corruption. The protests erupted on Monday, September 8, and were met with a violent crackdown by authorities, resulting in at least 19 deaths. The protest quickly evolved into a resistance movement against the Communist Party regime, spreading to other cities in Nepal, dubbed as the “Z Generation demonstrations.”
Video footage shows protesters setting fire to the Nepalese Communist Party headquarters. One protester climbed the flagpole, grabbed the party flag, and threw it to the cheering crowd below.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned under pressure from the protesters. Before his resignation, three other ministers had also stepped down. The situation escalated on Tuesday as protesters occupied government buildings, the parliament building, the residences of Prime Minister Oli and several high-ranking officials, setting them ablaze. The capital, Kathmandu, was engulfed in smoke. Numerous videos circulated online showing former party leader and current Finance Minister Boudel being violently attacked by protesters.
Intriguing footage surfaced showing Prime Minister Oli and high-ranking officials boarding a helicopter to escape to Kathmandu’s international airport. Hundreds of soldiers were present to escort them. Protesters attempted to disrupt the takeoff of the plane. The whereabouts of these officials are currently unknown.
Another video showed a high-ranking official escaping in a helicopter before protesters arrived. Lacking proper boarding conditions, the official and belongings were suspended beneath the helicopter by a rope, hastily fleeing the scene.
In a separate incident, a government official fled in a car, ramming into the crowd of protesters before being surrounded.
A presidential aide of Nepal President Bidell announced that the President accepted Prime Minister Oli’s resignation and initiated procedures to appoint a new leader. Indian television news outlet, India TV News, reported that President Bidell also resigned following the events. However, Bidell later released a statement urging dialogue to resolve the crisis. The Nepalese military has called for political dialogue from all parties involved.
Over the past decade, Nepal has experienced several changes in government. Prime Minister Oli, who recently resigned, was considered the founder of the Nepal Communist Party (Unified Marxist–Leninist) and had served as Prime Minister three times. Oli, known for his pro-China stance and crackdown on Tibetans, broke from tradition in 2024 when he chose Beijing as his first foreign visit instead of India. He advocated for deepening ties with Beijing and cooperating on the Belt and Road Initiative. From late August to September 3, 2025, Oli visited China, attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Tianjin and a military parade in Beijing.
The news of the political upheaval in Nepal has garnered attention in mainland China, with related topics trending on September 10. Videos circulating online showed the Nepalese Finance Minister being assaulted by protesters on the streets. Another video revealed protesters throwing a significant amount of cash out of the Energy Minister’s residence.
On social media platforms, Chinese netizens expressed various reactions to the situation in Nepal, highlighting concerns about the Chinese government’s authoritarian regime and praising the power of freedom. Some netizens humorously commented on the fates of leaders who had close ties with the Chinese Communist Party and speculated on the potential repercussions for the CCP. Seasoned commentator Cai Shenkun appeared in a video discussing the sudden regime change in Nepal, noting that centralized power often yields unexpected results.