Should China halt or slow down the expansion of its bullet train network after the July 23 accident in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province? There are three diverse views on the subject.
1、Tragedy exposes railway system flaws
Hexie is the Chinese word for harmony. It was also the name of the Chinese high-speed train that crashed into another bullet train on July 23, an accident deadly enough to make the name sound like an empty slogan.
The tragedy turned the long-held fear that China's fast-expanding rail network is vulnerable to major disasters into reality.
2、Criticism of China out of context
China's railways - including the 8,000 kilometers of high-speed tracks - is symbolic of the changing world. It symbolizes the rise of not only China, but also a new Asia, bold and confident, proud and daring.
Logic demands that China be saluted for its success in the fast rail system. It should be encouraged, too, because fast train networks not only improve lives, but also save lives and protect the environment. Accidents should be met with grief, but frankly speaking, they change nothing about correctness of a course. There is and should be no going back on the fast rail network for China.
3、The price of high speed is too high
China's bullet trains have been competing aggressively with the Europeans and Japanese for contracts in places as diverse as Iran, Russia and even California. It remains to be seen if China's high-speed trains can still conquer the world. But one thing is for certain - they will no longer be breaking world speed records.
Which view do you agree with?
