chinese state media has reported the government is planning to expand the qinghai to tibet railway ` at nepal 's request ' - which could include a tunnel under the world 's tallest mountain - 2020 that the step is important politically as it shows beijing building links with nepal , a country india regards as firmly within its sphere of influence .
` the line will probably have to go through qomolangma so that workers may have to dig some very long tunnels .