Always a step behind
The first-ever bullet train accident that occurred on July 23 in eastern China has now morphed from a calamity into a political crisis. After the train wreck, the Chinese government was criticised for its inept response, misleading information and reluctance to disclose the causes of the accident. The ferocity of public criticism against an ostensibly powerful one-party state caught most observers by surprise. In particular, the firestorm of public outrage was initially ignited by postings and comments on the Internet.