The Rise and Fall of China’s High-Speed Rail Father
Matter of Fact: A play on "matter" (physics) and "facts" (news).Show Notes
Liu Zhijun rose from a humble track worker to become China's Minister of Railways, leading the unprecedented expansion of the nation's high-speed rail network into the world's largest in just eight years. His leadership was defined by a ruthless, authoritarian style that prioritized rapid technological leaps while facilitating massive systemic corruption and the accumulation of over two trillion RMB in debt. Ultimately, his career ended in a suspended death sentence following the 2011 Wenzhou train crash, which revealed the severe safety compromises and financial scandals underlying his ambitious infrastructure projects.
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