Matt Schiavenza From the Dragon to the Apple- A Sinophile in New York

Notes on a Rail Crash

Amid all the other terrible news of the weekend, the train collision near Wenzhou that claimed the lives of over 30 people escaped much notice overseas. Yet here in China, the story has aroused public opinion far more than similar disasters have in the past. For the most comprehensive analysis of the issues at stake, ChinaGeeks is your source. Check out parts 1, 2, and 3 of Charles Custer's coverage of the rail disaster for what you need to know.

Thomas Friedman, the influential New York Times columnist, has often wrote that he wishes the US could be China for a day; this way, we'd be able to start critical infrastructure projects without any nettlesome political opposition. I've always agreed with Friedman in spirit, but I think he'd think twice if he knew exactly how unreliable and shoddy so much of China's new infrastructure development has been. Not to mention, but I don't think Friedman would admire a society in which the central government propaganda industry issues directives to the local media of how not to cover the story. ChinaGeeks translated the following from the China Digital Times:

Central Propaganda Department Notification: With regards to the Wenzhou train accident, all media must speedily report whatever information is released by the Railway Ministry. No media may send reporters to report [on the accident]. Carefully manage all newspapers, magazines, and websites. Do not connect it to information about the development of high speed rail [in China], do not do “re-thinking”-type reports [i.e., analytical reports]

We'll quite likely never know the full truth of how the collision occurred or of its underlying factors- and that's just how the Chinese government likes it.