China has the world's biggest and most advanced high-speed rail network. And it's helping other countries build similar systems. The rail technology is becoming an increasingly effective diplomatic tool for Beijing. But critics say it comes with strings attached.

Beijing

China operates the world's largest and most advanced high-speed rail network, transporting millions of passengers daily and connecting nearly all major cities. The country is actively exporting its rail technology, highlighted by participation in international conferences and infrastructure projects in countries such as Laos, Indonesia, and Pakistan. These efforts are part of China's broader Belt and Road Initiative, aiming to enhance global connectivity.

Advocates of Chinese high-speed rail point to reduced carbon emissions and economic stimulation as key benefits. However, some projects have faced criticism for underutilization and concerns about debt burdens on partner countries. The European Union has also scrutinized China's involvement in rail projects within Europe, reflecting broader concerns about Beijing's growing global influence.

China’s high-speed trains expand global influence with rail technology

On any given day, hundreds of bullet trains zoom across China, moving passengers between cities at speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour. It's the largest high-speed rail network in the world, and Beijing is using it to expand its global reach. China's high-speed trains have the fastest speed. Our technology is the most comprehensive, and our operating scenarios are the richest. Therefore, we can provide Chinese wisdom for international high-speed rail. China's eagerness to share its expertise was on display at the World Congress on High-Speed Rail in Beijing, which was attended by people from 60 countries, including officials from Pakistan who want to build on existing Chinese cooperation in freight and light rail projects. We are hoping that when we make our project, when we finalize the feasibility, we bring it to the table. The Chinese government will come in, maybe as an investor, maybe as a partner in technology, and we'll have one of the best high-speed rails in Pakistan. Advocates of the technology say it lowers carbon emissions and stimulates economic activity. The Beijing to Tianjin route was the first high-speed rail line to open in China in 2008. It used to take two hours to travel between the cities. Now passengers can complete the journey in about 30 minutes. The country's network now covers almost all cities with a population of over 500,000 and shuttles 16 million people per day. The trains are also central to China's Belt and Road Infrastructure Initiative. Completed projects include lines in Laos and Indonesia. New routes connecting China to Thailand and to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are underway. But some have faced problems. A lot of the time they're under capacity. They are not really benefiting the people who live in that country so much as sort of the people in power or the people in Chinese businesses who are using them. And sometimes they are indebting the country. China's first European project, a line connecting Hungary to Serbia, has faced scrutiny from the EU, which is wary of Beijing's growing influence. But for those attending this summit, the benefits outweigh the concerns. They consider the convenience and connectivity offered by the technology to be a fast track to the future. Katrina Yu, Al Jazeera, Beijing.

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Washington

Global Tariffs

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Ahmedabad

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Council of the City of Sydney

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Taipei

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Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

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Texas

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San Francisco

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