Saturday’s high-speed train accident in China is above all a tragedy. At least 35 people have died and more than 200 people have been injured.

The number of casualties may yet rise. But the accident also has a broader meaning. It will strengthen the case of those who have accused Chinese authorities of building a high-speed network too quickly and of cutting corners in the interests of leapfrogging other nations and, possibly, generating kickbacks for corrupt officials. Read more