It probably helps when you can simply take the land you need. One major issue with the California project has been the difficulty in securing land rights. Additionally, California’s strict environmental laws have made construction even more challenging. In contrast, China can largely ignore these obstacles.
> helps when you can simply take the land you need
When America built, this is exactly what we did. CAHSR should have been exempted from CEQA. Its commission should have been delegated eminent-domain powers vetoable only by the Governor or a majority of the legislature.
But the goal wasn't to build a train. It was to dole out the dough. And the dough be doleth. Just to litigators, union bosses and Central Valley landowners.
Even if untrue (there is plenty of reason to believe it's true), making claims about the government of a country is not "racist". To "lie" also requires intent (there is every reason to believe GP is writing in good faith). Your source is a few pictures taken 11 years ago and doesn't even really demonstrate "respect for personal property" anyway.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_high-speed_railway_lin...