There is no question China is determined to cut the arduous 1,463-km, 12-hour rail journey between Beijing and Shanghai to as little as four hours as quickly as possible.
But there is a question whether the best way to lop off the hours is with proven Japanese high-speed rail skills or with experimental German technology.
Zeng Peiyan, minister of the State Development Planning Commission (SPDC), has confirmed that the project, for which preliminary work has already started, will begin in full as early as next year. He promises that China will employ "the most advanced technology in the world."
But what that technology may be is the subject of much controversy.