High-Speed Empire : Chinese Expansion and the Future of Southeast Asia

The story of the world's most audacious infrastructure project. Less than a decade ago, China did not have a single high-speed train in service. Today, it owns a network of 14,000 miles of high-speed rail, far more than the rest of the world combined. Now, China is pushing its tracks into Southeast Asia, reviving a century-old colonial fantasy of an imperial railroad stretching to Singapore; and kicking off a key piece of the One Belt One Road initiative, which has a price tag of $1 trillion and, reaches inside the borders of more than 60 countries. The Pan-Asia Railway portion of One Belt One Road could transform Southeast Asia, bringing shiny Chinese cities, entire economies, and waves of migrants where none existed before. But if it doesn't succeed, that would be a cautionary tale about whether a new superpower, with levels of global authority unimaginable just a decade ago, can pull entire regions into its orbit simply with tracks, sweat, and lots of money. Journalist Will Doig traveled to Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore to chronicle the dramatic transformations taking place -- and to find out whether ordinary people have a voice in this moment of economic, political, and cultural collision. This is the story of the largest infrastructure project in theworld: China's One Belt, One Road. China's infrastructure projectsof colossal scale are constructed at rapid speed and have becomeChina's calling card. The length of their expressways have nowsurpassed the U.S. Interstate Highway system and they built over100 airports in the last fifteen years. The clean, efficient 365mile-long Shanghai Metro is the largest subway in the world, withBeijing's a close second. The crown jewel of these ventures isChina's high-speed rail system, the largest in the world. ButChina's most ambitious railway project isn't even taking place inChina. With One Belt One Road, China plans to pull half the globeinto its orbit using rail, roads, airports, and ships.Infrastructure has become China's foreign policy. This book takesthe reader on-site to the construction of the Pan-Asia RailwayNetwork, a railroad that will run from China to Singapore, helpingChina realize a long-held dream. But what happens when othercountries won't cooperate? High-Speed Empire is the story of anaudacious infrastructure project, a cautionary tale of China's new"railway diplomacy," and a revealing look at the world's newestempire builder at work.The story of the world's mostaudacious infrastructure project. Less than a decade ago,China did not have a single high-speed train in service. Today, itowns a network of 14,000 miles of high-speed rail, far more thanthe rest of the world combined. Now, China is pushing its tracksinto Southeast Asia, reviving a century-old colonial fantasy of animperial railroad stretching to Singapore; and kicking off a keypiece of the One Belt One Road initiative, which has a price tag of$1 trillion and, reaches inside the borders of more than 60countries. The Pan-Asia Railway portion of One Belt One Road couldtransform Southeast Asia, bringing shiny Chinese cities, entireeconomies, and waves of migrants where none existed before. But ifit doesn't succeed, that would be a cautionary tale about whether anew superpower, with levels of global authority unimaginable just adecade ago, can pull entire regions into its orbit simply withtracks, sweat, and lots of money. Journalist Will Doig traveled toLaos, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore to chronicle the dramatictransformations taking place -- and to find out whether ordinarypeople have a voice in this moment of economic, political, andcultural collision A Decade Ago, China Did Not Have A Single High-speed Train In Service. Today, It Owns A Network Of Over 14,000 Miles Of High-speed Rail, Far More Than The Rest Of The World Combined. Now China Is Pushing Its Tracks Into Southeast Asia, Reviving A Century-old Colonial Fantasy Of An Imperial Railroad Stretching To Singapore And Kicking Off A Key Piece Of The One Belt One Road Initiative, Which Has A Price Tag Of $1 Trillion And Reaches Inside The Borders Of More Than 60 Countries. The Pan-asia Railway Portion Of One Belt One Road Could Transform Southeast Asia, Bringing New Cities, Economies, And Migrants To Places Where None Existed Before. But If It Doesn't Succeed, That Would Be A Cautionary Tale About Whether A New Superpower, With Levels Of Global Authority Unimaginable Just A Decade Ago, Can Pull Entire Regions Into Its Orbit Simply With Tracks, Sweat, And Lots Of Money. Journalist Will Doig Traveled To Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, And Singapore To Chronicle The Dramatic Transformations Taking Place--and The Ordinary People Caught Up In This Moment Of Economic, Political, And Cultural Collision.-- Welcome To Laos Vegas -- A Most Internationally Modernized City -- Win-win -- Good Partners And Good Neighbors -- A Sanctuary Of Utter Peace -- Limited Service. Will Doig. Includes Bibliographical References (pages [98]-107). "The story of the world's most audacious infrastructure project. Less than a decade ago, China did not have a single high-speed train in service. Today, it owns a network of 14,000 miles of high-speed rail, far more than the rest of the world combined. Now, China is pushing its tracks into Southeast Asia, reviving a century-old colonial fantasy of an imperial railroad stretching to Singapore; and kicking off a key piece of the One Belt One Road initiative, which has a price tag of $1 trillion and, reaches inside the borders of more than 60 countries. The Pan-Asia Railway portion of One Belt One Road could transform Southeast Asia, bringing shiny Chinese cities, entire economies, and waves of migrants where none existed before. But if it doesn't succeed, that would be a cautionary tale about whether a new superpower, with levels of global authority unimaginable just a decade ago, can pull entire regions into its orbit simply with tracks, sweat, and lots of money. Journalist Will Doig traveled to Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore to chronicle the dramatic transformations taking place -- and to find out whether ordinary people have a voice in this moment of economic, political, and cultural collision."-- Provided by publisher "A decade ago, China did not have a single high-speed train in service. Today, it owns a network of over 14,000 miles of high-speed rail, far more than the rest of the world combined. Now China is pushing its tracks into Southeast Asia, reviving a century-old colonial fantasy of an imperial railroad stretching to Singapore and kicking off a key piece of the One Belt One Road initiative, which has a price tag of $1 trillion and reaches inside the borders of more than 60 countries. The Pan-Asia Railway portion of One Belt One Road could transform Southeast Asia, bringing new cities, economies, and migrants to places where none existed before. But if it doesn't succeed, that would be a cautionary tale about whether a new superpower, with levels of global authority unimaginable just a decade ago, can pull entire regions into its orbit simply with tracks, sweat, and lots of money. Journalist Will Doig traveled to Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore to chronicle the dramatic transformations taking place--and the ordinary people caught up in this moment of economic, political, and cultural collision."--Page 4 de la couverture "A decade ago, China did not have a single high-speed train in service. Today, it owns a network of over 14,000 miles of high-speed rail, far more than the rest of the world combined. Now China is pushing its tracks into Southeast Asia, reviving a century-old colonial fantasy of an imperial railroad stretching to Singapore and kicking off a key piece of the One Belt One Road initiative, which has a price tag of $1 trillion and reaches inside the borders of more than 60 countries. The Pan-Asia Railway portion of One Belt One Road could transform Southeast Asia, bringing new cities, economies, and migrants to places where none existed before. But if it doesn't succeed, that would be a cautionary tale about whether a new superpower, with levels of global authority unimaginable just a decade ago, can pull entire regions into its orbit simply with tracks, sweat, and lots of money. Journalist Will Doig traveled to Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore to chronicle the dramatic transformations taking place--and the ordinary people caught up in this moment of economic, political, and cultural collision."-- Provided by publisher Today more people travel to Hungary for dental care than to any other country in Europe. The fascinating story of how Hungary became Europe's dental chair is a case study in medical tourism, which has become a growing multi-billion-dollar industry — exploding in places as varied as India, Brazil, Korea, and Costa Rica — as countries rewrite laws to compete for patients. Doctors and dentists have to run a business, but does globalization destroy the dream of high-quality universal health care? Sasha Issenberg, the acclaimed author of The Sushi Economy and The Victory Lab , goes on the trail of dental tourism in Eastern Europe in search of answers.