Chinese infrastructure is growing too fast for some
Steve Chiotakis: Markets are closed in China this week for a national holiday, and people are traveling by subway and train. There’s concern in the country over rail safety after some bad crashes in the last few months.
Marketplace China bureau chief Rob Schmitz reports.
Rob Schmitz: Shanghai subways are running slower this week. It’s a safety measure the government’s carried out to avoid another accident.
He Guo Ying is one rider who still feels a little nervous.
He Guo Ying: The government needs to be more careful. If they put the lives of the people first, then we wouldn’t be seeing so many accidents.
She repeats a phrase that’s popular these days in China — things are moving too fast. With all these accidents, many wonder whether the quality of China’s new infrastructure could possibly equal the quantity.
A new, morbid Chinese phrase has even risen out of this: Dai Xue GDP — blood-soaked GDP — the idea that China’s risked people’s lives in its quest for rapid economic growth.
Subway rider Cao Xuying says her options are limited. I have to take the subway, she says. Too many people have cars these days and driving in Shanghai traffic would get me nowhere.
In Shanghai, I’m Rob Schmitz, for Marketplace.
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