Media reports stated China has opened a strategic highway along the Tibet and Nepal border. They plan to use the border for civilian and defense purposes. According to some Chinese experts, this will help Beijing to make forays into South Asia, read India.
A news channels in China reported regarding the highway and said, “The Tibet highway between Xigaze airport and Xigaze city centre officially opened to the public on Friday, a short section linking the national highway to the Nepal border which experts said will enable China to forge a route into South Asia in both economic and defence terms.”
The highway will also reduce the travel time between the civil and military airport to Xigaze from one hour to 30 minutes.
Experts also revealed that in the future the highway will be linked to the China Nepal railway.
Director of the Centre for Asia Pacific Studies at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, Zhao Gancheng said, “As part of G318, the highway connects the border town of Zhangmu with Lhasa, the capital city of southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. It can link with the future cross border Sino-Nepali railway.”
The report from him further added, “The Sino-Nepali railway was part of a deal struck by Nepal deputy Prime Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara when he visited China in early September. The railway includes two lines: one connecting three of Nepal’s most important cities and two crossing the border between China and Nepal.”
Zhao has already predicted India’s reaction to the new highway and stated, “Although the railway connection between China and Nepal is intended to boost regional development and not for military purposes, the move will still probably irritate India. India is always disgusted when neighboring countries attempt to get closer to China.”
Nepal Politician, Krishna Bahadur Mahara was on a six day visit to China on official business. During his trip, he spoke to a local news agency and said, “We have already signed the memorandum of understanding on participating in the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China.”
