China passed a law on Saturday to strengthen border protection amid a protracted standoff with India, worries about spillover effects from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and the spread of COVID-19 from Southeast Asia.

The Land Borders Law will not necessarily change how border security is handled when the measure takes effect on January&nbsp;1, but it reflects China's growing confidence in its capability to manage its frontiers.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/why-is-china-trying-to-break-indias-chicken-neck-423184">Why is China trying to break India's chicken neck?</a>

China has been closely watching neighbouring Afghanistan, where the Taliban returned to power in August, to guard against a possible inflow of refugees or Islamic extremists crossing over to link up with the Muslim Uyghurs in China's Xinjiang region.

At its Himalayan frontier, Chinese soldiers have been in a standoff with Indian troops since April 2020.

China has also taken great pains to keep the COVID-19 virus outside of its borders, after illegal crossings from Myanmar and Vietnam contributed this year to a surge in cases in its southern provinces of Yunnan and Guangxi respectively.

This is the first time that the People's Republic of China, founded 72 years ago, has a dedicated law specifying how it governs and guards its 22,000-km (14,000-mile) land border shared with 14 countries, including former superpower Russia and nuclear-capable North Korea.

The country will "take effective measures to resolutely protect territorial sovereignty and land border security", the law says.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-warns-slovakia-czech-republic-over-taiwan-minister-visit-423090">China warns Slovakia, Czech Republic over Taiwan minister visit</a>

Chinese military and military police - the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force - are responsible for guarding the border against any "invasion, encroachment, infiltration, provocation".

The law stipulates that China can close its border if a war or other armed conflict nearby threatens border security.

China passed a law on Saturday to strengthen border protection amid a protracted standoff with India, worries about spillover effects from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and the spread of COVID-19 from Southeast Asia.

China passed a law on Saturday to strengthen border protection amid a protracted standoff with India, worries about spillover effects from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and the spread of COVID-19 from Southeast Asia. The Land Borders Law will not necessarily change how border security is handled when the measure takes effect on January 1, but it reflects China's growing confidence in its capability to manage its frontiers. Also Read | Why is China trying to break India's chicken neck? China has been closely watching neighbouring Afghanistan, where the Taliban returned to power in August, to guard against a possible inflow of refugees or Islamic extremists crossing over to link up with the Muslim Uyghurs in China's Xinjiang region. At its Himalayan frontier, Chinese soldiers have been in a standoff with Indian troops since April 2020. China has also taken great pains to keep the COVID-19 virus outside of its borders, after illegal crossings from Myanmar and Vietnam contributed this year to a surge in cases in its southern provinces of Yunnan and Guangxi respectively. This is the first time that the People's Republic of China, founded 72 years ago, has a dedicated law specifying how it governs and guards its 22,000-km (14,000-mile) land border shared with 14 countries, including former superpower Russia and nuclear-capable North Korea. The country will "take effective measures to resolutely protect territorial sovereignty and land border security", the law says. Also Read | China warns Slovakia, Czech Republic over Taiwan minister visit Chinese military and military police - the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force - are responsible for guarding the border against any "invasion, encroachment, infiltration, provocation". The law stipulates that China can close its border if a war or other armed conflict nearby threatens border security.

China strengthens land border protection with new law

The United States will lift restrictions at its land borders with Canada and Mexico for fully vaccinated foreign nationals in early November, ending historic curbs on non-essential travelers in place since March 2020 to address the COVID-19 pandemic, two US&nbsp;officials said on Tuesday.

The rules, which will be formally announced by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday, will cover land borders and ferry crossings. They are similar but not identical to planned requirements announced last month for international air travelers, the officials said in a call with reporters.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sydney-covid-19-cases-ease-further-as-focus-shifts-to-reviving-economy-420055">Sydney COVID-19 cases ease further as focus shifts to reviving economy</a>

Lawmakers from US border states praised the move to lift the unprecedented restrictions which harmed the economies of local communities and prevented visits to friends and families.

"Since the beginning of the pandemic, members of our shared cross-border community have felt the pain and economic hardship of the land border closures. That pain is about to end," Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement.

Unvaccinated visitors will still be barred from entering the United States from Canada or Mexico at land borders.

The officials from President Joe Biden's administration emphasized that the White House would not lift the "Title 42" order put in place by former President Donald Trump's administration that has essentially cut off access to asylum for hundreds of thousands of migrants seeking to enter from Mexico.

The precise date in early November when the restrictions will be lifted on both land and air travel will be announced "very soon," one of the officials said, adding the that Biden administration was "creating a consistent stringent protocol for all foreign nationals traveling into the United States."

Canada on August&nbsp;9 began allowing fully vaccinated US&nbsp;visitors for non-essential travel.

Great Relife

Once the US curbs are lifted, non-essential foreign visitors crossing US&nbsp;land borders, such as tourists, will be able to visit if they are vaccinated. In early January, the United States will require essential visitors, like truck drivers, to be vaccinated to cross land borders, the officials said.

US&nbsp;lawmakers have been pushing the White House to lift restrictions that have barred non-essential travel by Canadians across the northern US&nbsp;border since March 2020, and many border communities have been hit hard by the closure. Mexico has also pressed the Biden administration to ease restrictions.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-120000-kids-in-us-lost-a-primary-caregiver-due-to-covid-19-419101">Over 120,000 kids in US lost a primary caregiver due to COVID-19</a>

Senator Maria Cantwell said the announcement "will provide great relief to those waiting to see friends and loved ones from Canada."

The White House announced on September&nbsp;20 that the United States in early November would lift travel restrictions on air travelers&nbsp;from 33 countries including China, India, Brazil and most of Europe who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. It also said it would extend the vaccine requirements to foreign air travelers from all other countries.

Foreign visitors crossing into the United States by land or ferry will need to be vaccinated but will not necessarily need to show proof of vaccination unless they are referred by US&nbsp;Customs and Border Patrol for secondary inspections.

By contrast, all non-US&nbsp;air travelers will need to show proof of vaccination before boarding a flight, and will need to show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test. Foreign visitors crossing a land border will not need to show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-national-guard-medical-teams-deployed-in-some-areas-in-california-amid-virus-surge-418338">US National Guard medical teams deployed in some areas in California amid virus surge</a>

On Friday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the United States would accept&nbsp;the use by international visitors of COVID-19 vaccines authorized by US&nbsp;regulators or the World Health Organization.

One question unanswered is whether the United States will accept vaccines from visitors who received doses of two different COVID-19 vaccines. 
The US&nbsp;land border restrictions have not barred US&nbsp;citizens from returning home.

The United States will lift restrictions at its land borders with Canada and Mexico for fully vaccinated foreign nationals in early November, ending historic curbs on non-essential travelers in place since March 2020 to address the COVID-19 pandemic, two US officials said on Tuesday.

The United States will lift restrictions at its land borders with Canada and Mexico for fully vaccinated foreign nationals in early November, ending historic curbs on non-essential travelers in place since March 2020 to address the COVID-19 pandemic, two US officials said on Tuesday. The rules, which will be formally announced by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday, will cover land borders and ferry crossings. They are similar but not identical to planned requirements announced last month for international air travelers, the officials said in a call with reporters. Also Read | Sydney COVID-19 cases ease further as focus shifts to reviving economy Lawmakers from US border states praised the move to lift the unprecedented restrictions which harmed the economies of local communities and prevented visits to friends and families. "Since the beginning of the pandemic, members of our shared cross-border community have felt the pain and economic hardship of the land border closures. That pain is about to end," Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement. Unvaccinated visitors will still be barred from entering the United States from Canada or Mexico at land borders. The officials from President Joe Biden's administration emphasized that the White House would not lift the "Title 42" order put in place by former President Donald Trump's administration that has essentially cut off access to asylum for hundreds of thousands of migrants seeking to enter from Mexico. The precise date in early November when the restrictions will be lifted on both land and air travel will be announced "very soon," one of the officials said, adding the that Biden administration was "creating a consistent stringent protocol for all foreign nationals traveling into the United States." Canada on August 9 began allowing fully vaccinated US visitors for non-essential travel. Great Relife Once the US curbs are lifted, non-essential foreign visitors crossing US land borders, such as tourists, will be able to visit if they are vaccinated. In early January, the United States will require essential visitors, like truck drivers, to be vaccinated to cross land borders, the officials said. US lawmakers have been pushing the White House to lift restrictions that have barred non-essential travel by Canadians across the northern US border since March 2020, and many border communities have been hit hard by the closure. Mexico has also pressed the Biden administration to ease restrictions. Also Read | Over 120,000 kids in US lost a primary caregiver due to COVID-19 Senator Maria Cantwell said the announcement "will provide great relief to those waiting to see friends and loved ones from Canada." The White House announced on September 20 that the United States in early November would lift travel restrictions on air travelers from 33 countries including China, India, Brazil and most of Europe who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. It also said it would extend the vaccine requirements to foreign air travelers from all other countries. Foreign visitors crossing into the United States by land or ferry will need to be vaccinated but will not necessarily need to show proof of vaccination unless they are referred by US Customs and Border Patrol for secondary inspections. By contrast, all non-US air travelers will need to show proof of vaccination before boarding a flight, and will need to show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test. Foreign visitors crossing a land border will not need to show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test. Also Read | US National Guard medical teams deployed in some areas in California amid virus surge On Friday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the United States would accept the use by international visitors of COVID-19 vaccines authorized by US regulators or the World Health Organization. One question unanswered is whether the United States will accept vaccines from visitors who received doses of two different COVID-19 vaccines. The US land border restrictions have not barred US citizens from returning home.

US to lift Canada, Mexico land border restrictions in November for vaccinated visitors

North Korea appears to maintain its tight restrictions on the movement of materials through land borders with China despite some signs that it is easing up its maritime border controls to bring in outside assistance, the South Korean Unification Ministry said on Friday.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that it has begun shipping COVID-19 medical supplies to North Korea through the Chinese port of Dalian, indicating that Pyongyang might be opening a maritime route that has been blocked since July last year due to the pandemic, reports Yonhap News Agency.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/skorea-extends-social-distancing-curbs-as-covid-19-cases-rise-in-seoul-417276">S.Korea extends social distancing curbs as COVID-19 cases rise in Seoul</a>

"Media reports show that there are signs that some materials are being delivered (to North Korea) But up until now, no concrete changes have been confirmed about the resumption of land-based materials movement between Dandong (of China) and Sinuiju (of the North)," Cha Deok-cheol, the Ministry`s deputy spokesperson, told reporters.

"It is hard to predict exactly when it will be reopened at the moment, and we will keep an eye on relevant developments for the time being," he added.

North Korea has claimed to be coronavirus-free and rejected outside help for its anti-epidemic campaign for fear that any shipment could spread the virus on its soil.

A Ministry official had earlier said that the North might be easing its long-enforced border restrictions, given that its trade with China has been on a marked rise in recent months.

North Korea appears to maintain its tight restrictions on the movement of materials through land borders with China despite some signs that it is easing up its maritime border controls to bring in outside assistance, the South Korean Unification Ministry said on Friday.

North Korea appears to maintain its tight restrictions on the movement of materials through land borders with China despite some signs that it is easing up its maritime border controls to bring in outside assistance, the South Korean Unification Ministry said on Friday. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that it has begun shipping COVID-19 medical supplies to North Korea through the Chinese port of Dalian, indicating that Pyongyang might be opening a maritime route that has been blocked since July last year due to the pandemic, reports Yonhap News Agency. Also Read | S.Korea extends social distancing curbs as COVID-19 cases rise in Seoul "Media reports show that there are signs that some materials are being delivered (to North Korea) But up until now, no concrete changes have been confirmed about the resumption of land-based materials movement between Dandong (of China) and Sinuiju (of the North)," Cha Deok-cheol, the Ministry`s deputy spokesperson, told reporters. "It is hard to predict exactly when it will be reopened at the moment, and we will keep an eye on relevant developments for the time being," he added. North Korea has claimed to be coronavirus-free and rejected outside help for its anti-epidemic campaign for fear that any shipment could spread the virus on its soil. A Ministry official had earlier said that the North might be easing its long-enforced border restrictions, given that its trade with China has been on a marked rise in recent months.

North Korea seems to maintain strict land border controls: Seoul

Countries seal borders amid coronavirus fears

land-border

Land Border, News on Land Border, stories on Land Border, articles on Land Border, Land Border stories at Wion, Land Border news, Land Border latest news