China on Sunday introduced new regulations on its Tibet border, a move aimed at reducing any future terror risks and separatism while promoting trade.

The specified border areas under the new policies will now cover ports, scenic views, and trading zones. The Sunday regulations are a revamp of the earlier law that had been in place since 2000.

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During an interview with the Global Times, Wang Chunhuan, the deputy director of the Theoretical Marxism of the Tibet Academy of Social Sciences, explained that the new regulations were necessary.

"The update of border regulations provides a legal foundation to combat potential terrorist activities brought by the further opening up of Tibet of the Belt and Road initiative," Wang said. 

Wang, who also played a key role in the amendments, further explained that even though the border areas are not currently under terrorism threat, Tibet is positioned as a gateway in China's Belt and Road initiative.

Meanwhile, the deputy head of the border police in Tibet, Ba Zhu, was quoted in mid-December last year, saying that despite the economic growth in Tibet, the border region has remained a hub of war and various criminal activities ranging from separatism to terror attacks, according to Reuters.

The new regulations come just after China launched the Tibet and Nepal rail and road link. During the launch, trucks carrying goods departed from the Tibetan border port of Gyoirong going to Kathmandu. China plans to extend the road and railway initiative to India and other South Asian countries in a bid to promote trade links.

Tagschina, Tibet, New Regulations, Rail and Road Initiative