China is reportedly examining whether to cut back investments in seven new strategic industries. These industries include high speed rail and wind power. The plan was for China to invest up to US$1.5 trillion in the next five years in seven strategic sectors, which included high-end equipment manufacturing, alternative energy, biotechnology, new generation information technology, alternative fuel cars and other environmentally friendly technologies. According to unnamed sources, the decision to reduce spending in the country’s high-speed rail project and the wind power sector are in part due to worries about corruption and over extension. Reuters reported that the spending cuts stem partly from worries about corruption in the country’s high-speed rail project and overcapacity concerns in the wind power sector. Former Railway Minister Liu Zhijun was removed in March “disciplinary violations.” The ministry has denied any plans to cancel or downgrade rail lines, although the new Minister Sheng Guangzu placed investments in railway infrastructure in 2011 at only 600 billion yuan (US$92.6 billion), compared to the former minister’s pledge of 700 billion yuan (US$108.1 billion). Liu had planned to boost China’s rail network to 50,000 km (30,000 miles) by 2015. (July 7, 2011)