MOR: Rail patents 'do not violate IPR'
China independently developed the technology that it was attempting to patent, Wang said.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries transferred the technology for a 200-km/h train to China in 2004. The CSR Corp's Qingdao Sifang Co, in partnership with Kawasaki Heavy Industries, produced the train called the CRH2 in China.
CSR later developed its own 300-350 km/h train, followed by the CRH380A train with a designed top speed of 380 km/h.
"The Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway and Japan's Shinkansen line cannot be mentioned in the same breath, as many of the technological indicators used by China's high-speed railways are far better than those used in Japan's Shinkansen," Wang stated, rejecting the Japanese accusation.
Wang's remarks were backed up by Ma Yun, vice-general manager of the Sifang Co. Practical necessity determined that we could not copy another country's technology, Ma said. "The research and development of the 350 km/h train was totally in line with the characteristics of our country's railroads," added Ma. For example, the air tightness of our trains has been improved because there are many tunnels on China's railways, which require a higher standard.
Among other differences, the engines of China's trains are designed by the CSR Corp. The CRH380A has a derailment factor of only 0.13, compared to 0.73 for the CRH2, and air resistance at the front of the train is more than 15 percent less, Wang said.
"The strong reaction of some Japanese, without even knowing exactly what patents China is filing for, shows a fragile state of mind and a lack of confidence," Wang added.
How did China's high-speed rail technology develop so fast?
Led by the government, China has assembled a large number of R&D institutions and talent across the country, and spent six years developing its own high-speed rail technology, according to Wang.
He said China did absorb foreign technology, but also developed its own.
China's high-speed rail technology has experienced three steps of development, Wang explained. First, Chinese engineers mastered the technology to manufacture 200-250 km/h trains by absorbing overseas technology and innovation; second, we invented the 350 km/h high speed train, making the nation a technological leader in the field; third, with the birth of the CRH380 train, we have promoted the world's technology to a new level.
In addition, about 25 first-rate colleges and universities, 11 top-ranking research institutions and 51 national laboratories and engineering study centers took part in the innovation and manufacturing of China's high speed rails, according to He Huawu, chief engineer of the Ministry.
