China’s spin offensiveThe 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.
Stern Hu
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.
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?
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.
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.
All the conspiracy theories are true!
Political Analysts from the First Dog On The Moon Institute can prove it!
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.
China gives Australia a Stern rebuke
China’s new comments on the Stern Hu case have put Kevin Rudd in a difficult position. He’s now caught between antagonising Australia’s biggest trading partner and appearing too soft at home, write John Garnaut and Michelle Grattan.
China’s ore war will change the world
The Rio arrests could prove counterproductive for China’s plans to re-make the global marketplace in its image, says Holman W. Jenkins.
Hu is the broadsheets’ Schapellian moment
Stern Hu is the broadsheets’ own Schapelle, almost perfectly designed to push the buttons of the commentariat in the same way as your ordinary punters had their buttons pushed by the Corby saga.
Stern Hu: The man who knew too much
Those expecting a backlash against China over its arrest of four Rio Tinto employees are still waiting, writes Alan Kohler.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: The battle of the books
Childrens’ author Mem Fox and other Crikey readers weigh-in on parallel imports, plus Stern Hu, Honduras, and more.
Guy Rundle: The utopian borderless free world is fiction
Globalisation has created international economic dependency that erodes state power, writes Guy Rundle.
Death for bribery: China ramps the propaganda war
Reading reports from Chinese news agencies leaves no doubt that Stern Hu and Rio Tinto will be convicted one way or another.
The envelope please: Rio’s winning way with public relations
For global mining behemoth Rio Tinto, it appears red envelopes extend beyond Feng Shui into the realm of cash for comment.
Chinese executive gets death sentence for bribes
In light of Rio Tinto exec Stern Hu being accused of bribery, this news is interesting. Chen Tonghai, former chairman of Sinopec, has been sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for taking huge bribes.
China, Australia and Rio Tinto: economic/resource shadow war?
The arrest of ethnic Chinese and Australian citizen executives of Rio Tinto in Shanghai has crystallised the differences in the two countries’ economic culture and political systems, writes Tony Lamond.
