China has established a new county in Xinjiang province near the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Afghanistan border to enhance security along the Wakhan Corridor.
The county, named Cenling, is strategically located near the Karakoram mountain range and close to the borders with PoK and Afghanistan.
This is the third new county established by China in Xinjiang in over a year, underscoring its focus on border security and governance.
The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region government announced the establishment of Cenling on March 26, with Kashgar prefecture set to administer the new county.
Experts say the creation of Cenling reflects Beijing's growing emphasis on border security and governance, particularly in the wake of concerns about Uyghur separatist militants.
China has expressed concerns about Uyghur militants using the Wakhan Corridor as a route to enter Xinjiang from Afghanistan, highlighting the country's security and counterterrorism concerns.
