This has been top story in Oz for the last week. Very hard to get any information on the particulars, but there is talk this guy could be locked up for years before he goes to trial.
Stop meddling in Hu case, China warns
China has warned Australia not to interfere in the case of a Rio Tinto executive being held for allegedly spying.
The executive, Stern Hu, and three Chinese colleagues have been arrested for bribery and espionage.
The Australian citizen will be spending his twelfth night in detention.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd took a tough line against Beijing yesterday, warning that foreign governments and international companies with interests in China are watching developments closely.
But Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang says it is not in Australia's interests for it to interfere with the independent judicial authority of China.
"We are firmly against anyone stirring up the case and interfering with the independent judicial authority of China," he said.
"This is not in the interest of Australia."
He also warned foreign companies doing business in China to respect Chinese rules.
"There is an old Chinese saying: 'a man of noble character acquires his wealth by honourable means'," he said.
"What [does] honourable mean? First it's the law. We request foreign enterprises in China to abide by the laws and regulations of China."
US intervenes
The United States Government is preparing to intervene in the espionage case.
Commerce Secretary Gary Locke is visiting China and says he will raise the issue of detained Rio Tinto staff with the government in Beijing.
Mr Locke and the US energy secretary are on a three-day visit to Beijing aimed at boosting cooperation between the two countries in the clean energy sector.
Mr Locke says he will speak about the matter when he meets Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.
Stop meddling in Hu case, China warns - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Stop meddling in Hu case, China warns
China has warned Australia not to interfere in the case of a Rio Tinto executive being held for allegedly spying.
The executive, Stern Hu, and three Chinese colleagues have been arrested for bribery and espionage.
The Australian citizen will be spending his twelfth night in detention.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd took a tough line against Beijing yesterday, warning that foreign governments and international companies with interests in China are watching developments closely.
But Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang says it is not in Australia's interests for it to interfere with the independent judicial authority of China.
"We are firmly against anyone stirring up the case and interfering with the independent judicial authority of China," he said.
"This is not in the interest of Australia."
He also warned foreign companies doing business in China to respect Chinese rules.
"There is an old Chinese saying: 'a man of noble character acquires his wealth by honourable means'," he said.
"What [does] honourable mean? First it's the law. We request foreign enterprises in China to abide by the laws and regulations of China."
US intervenes
The United States Government is preparing to intervene in the espionage case.
Commerce Secretary Gary Locke is visiting China and says he will raise the issue of detained Rio Tinto staff with the government in Beijing.
Mr Locke and the US energy secretary are on a three-day visit to Beijing aimed at boosting cooperation between the two countries in the clean energy sector.
Mr Locke says he will speak about the matter when he meets Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.
Stop meddling in Hu case, China warns - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
