China’s Vice-Premier Li Keqiang recent trip down under only serves as a salutary reminder of the increasingly sophisticated yet tough approach by the PRC in its dealings with weaker nation states such as Australia, writes Tony Lamond.
Stern Hu
Political snippets: Parliament goes pre-school
Coalition MPs have done themselves no favours with their behaviour in the House of Representatives this week — temper tantrums don’t win support or votes. Plus pre-mixed concrete sales cements economic predictions and remember those jailed Rio execs? Hu? Exactly.
Tips and rumours: No Bandidos clubhouse in Bligh’s backyard?
Anna Bligh worries about new Bandidos clubhouses and further Fairfax subscription woes. Plus, who is rumoured to play Steve Irwin in the new telemovie titled Crikey?
Libs in a twist over China
The Coalition just can’t decide what their stand is on China/Australia relations. The only thing they can agree on: all the diplomatic problems are thanks to PM Kevin Rudd, writes Lenore Taylor.
China softens on Stern Hu
Stern Hu and the three other Rio Tinto employees arrested in China are no longer facing the death sentence or life in prison, after being charged with illegally obtaining corporate secrets and bribery, but not the more serious charges of spying that had been expected.
Rio Tinto Four could go free
Stern Hu and his three Chinese associates have been arrested, but there has been no mention of espionage, the most serious charge of all.
Rio employees officially arrested
The four Rio Tinto employees being detained in China, including Australian Stern Hu, have officially had the cuffs slapped on, according to this China Daily report.
Rio still awaiting evidence of spying
Rio Tinto says it has still seen no evidence to support the detention of its four employees being detained in China for spying.
Muddled maths cost Rio
The now disputed accusations that Rio Tinto cost China’s iron ore industry $102 million has wiped $3.3 billion from the company’s value.
The Middle Kingdom’s mixed messages
The Stern Hu affair has taken a ludicrous turn, says Matthew Stevens, as China engage in some Cold War rhetoric with accusations of Rio’s “commercial espionage warfare” and the increasing likelihood that we’re headed for “iron-ore show trials”.
China’s spin offensive
The Chinese government is now backing away from yesterday’s claims that Rio Tinto engaged in commercial espionage, after the source admitted he essentially made it up, says Alan Kohler. Yet the country’s news outlets are still running the story as fact, with the new charge that Australian Stern Hu owns two $17 million villas.
Crikey Says: Action needed on China and Rio Tinto
Yesterday’s missive from China raises the stakes considerably in the screw-tightening on Rio Tinto and its imprisoned executive Stern Hu. Is it time for stronger diplomatic action?
Political snippets: Rio Tinto not alone in not knowing
Where does China draw the line between legitimate market research and illegal commercial espionage? They themselves don’t seem to know, so how can Rio? Richard Farmer investigates.
China: The spy Hu robbed me
In news that bodes poorly for detained Australian Rio Tinto executive Stern Hu, China have broadened their allegations against the company, claiming Rio has waged a campaign of “economic espionage”, stealing state secrets for six years, at a cost of $120b to the country’s economy.
Stern Hu and the unpleasant truth about Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto is a company renowned for playing hard-ball in its commercial operations around the world.
Hu faces life in prison
Stern Hu could be facing life behind bars, with China now claiming they have “ample evidence” against the Rio executive and his three imprisoned colleagues.
Political snippets: Deflation off the cards
Forget your deflationary blues and what the Chinese press are saying on Rio.
The economy, Hu and Uluru
Essential Report’s latest poll focused on the economy, the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, China and Uluru. Possum Comitatus crunches the numbers.
All the conspiracy theories are true!
Political Analysts from the First Dog On The Moon Institute can prove it!
Tips and rumours: DFAT wants Turnbull and Bishop to butt out?
A Crikey tipster writes: A DFAT legal adviser told us the current case of Mr Hu is being compromised by ill informed megaphone behaviour of the Opposition leaders.
US convicts former Boeing employee of spying for … China
With the case of Stern Hu — the Rio Tinto exec accused by China of spying — still up in the air, CNN reports that Dongfan “Greg” Chung, 73, has been found guilty of economic espionage for China.
Gerard Henderson's Media Watch Dog: Why Hu does not spell Hicks
In issue 19 of his Media Watch Dog, Gerard Henderson takes on media commentary on the Stern Hu case, misspelling and errors of history.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Stern Hu is not Schapelle Corby
Crikey readers weigh in on Stern Hu, parallel import restrictions on books, Peter Garrett and more.
