Yoshiyuki Kasai, the chairman of Japan Central Railway (JR Central; 9022.TYO), accused China of stealing foreign technology and ignoring safety precautions, the Financial Times reported. "In Japan, if one passenger is injured or killed, the cost is prohibitively high … But China is a country where 10,000 passengers could die every year and no one would make a fuss." Kasai said. Under Kasai, JR Central has declined to bid on rail contracts in China due to fears of having its technology taken by Chinese competitors. France’s Alstom (ALO.Euronext) has complained that Chinese companies compete for overseas contracts with foreign technology. Kasai also criticized China for operating Japanese-designed trains in the country close to their maximum safe speeds. JR Central and Chinese companies are currently competing for contracts in the US and other markets.