China establishes new Xinjiang county near Afghan and Indian borders

China has carved out a new county, Cenling, in the far reaches of its Xinjiang region, aiming to fortify control over a volatile frontier. Announced on March 26, the county falls under Kashgar prefecture and sits near critical borders with Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the disputed Line of Actual Control with India. This region serves as a strategic nexus for Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative, especially the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, while also posing challenges due to potential militant i