China has outlined plans to enhance infrastructure in its border regions, including completing two highways spanning its nine land-border provinces, advancing an east coast highway, and upgrading three routes into Tibet. The initiative, which details policy priorities for the rest of the decade, focuses on improving connectivity and mobility in strategic areas.
China aims to project more power in Xinjiang and Tibet over the next five years through enhanced infrastructure. The plan highlights developments to improve connectivity across its border provinces. According to the South China Morning Post, China intends to complete two highways spanning all nine of its land-border provinces and advance construction of the National Coastal Highway along its east coast, linking the port city of Dandong near North Korea with Dongxing on the border with Vietnam.
The initiative also involves upgrading three highways into Tibet. One key project is the Dushanzi-Kuqa Highway in central Xinjiang, with construction starting in September and expected completion in 2032. Once finished, it will enable year-round travel and reduce journeys across the Tianshan Mountains to half or a third of the current time.
This route will run parallel to a strategic road built in the 1970s to boost military mobility following the 1962 Sino-Indian border war. Keywords mentioned include Galwan Valley, Line of Actual Control, Indian, Hot Springs, Liu Zongyi, Chinese, Kashgar, Shaksgam Valley, Delhi, Lhasa, Beijing, India, China, Xinjiang, and Tibet.
The plan outlines China's policy priorities for the rest of the decade, focusing on strengthening strategic capabilities in border regions.
