CHINA If foreign investors thought they need not concern themselves with the Chinese government’s spotty record on basic rights, the Rio Tinto case might well be their wake-up call. Since July 5 2009, four of the Shanghai-based staff of the Anglo-Australian mining giant have been in jail, no doubt wondering how they will defend themselves against China’s curiously slippery state secrets law.
The Rio Tinto employees, who include an Australian citizen, Stern Hu, have been accused of obtaining confidential documents during negotiations for the supply of iron ore to Chinese state-owned firms.
