Multimodal Freight Transportation Security in China

China has been the fastest growing economy in the world with an average annual growth rate of 10 percent over the past 30 years. It is now the second largest economy after the United States. China is also the largest exporter and second largest importer of goods in the world. The development of the country’s transportation systems has been given a high priority as they are strategically tied to the national economy and national defense. The transportation and logistics sectors have been growing at an even faster pace than the overall economy. With the world’s fourth largest land area, safe and secure movements of goods and materials are critical to the rapidly expanding international and domestic trades and business. This chapter provides a brief overview of the current state of freight movements by mode and the development of transportation infrastructures, examines the issues and challenges in freight security, and provides an assessment of the security rules and regulations imposed by governments and the measures taken by various industry stakeholders to ensure the safety and security of freight transportation in China.