Rio Tinto and Rule of Law in China

Last month Beijing detained the head of Rio Tinto's multibillion dollar iron ore business in China, Stern Hu, an Australian citizen, as well as three Chinese employees. Three days later Australia's Foreign Minister Stephen Smith announced that the men were being held on accusations of bribery and stealing state secrets.

Shortly thereafter, China criticized Australia for giving a visa to Rebiya Kadeer, the former Uighur businesswoman whom Beijing has accused of being responsible for the July 5 riot in Urumqi.