Rio Tinto executive held in China

[gordon2007]

'AUSTRALIA and China are on a diplomatic collision course after a senior Australian mining executive was arrested in Shanghai by secret police on charges of espionage and theft of state secrets'
http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,27753,25750342-462,00.html



I don't think this will have any affect on rio's share price. I am however, concerned about what this will do to the chinese\australian relationship. I'm wondering if this will turn into a chinese pride issue and also if it will turn into a western values against chinese values.

 

[Aussiejeff]

'AUSTRALIA and China are on a diplomatic collision course after a senior Australian mining executive was arrested in Shanghai by secret police on charges of espionage and theft of state secrets'
http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,27753,25750342-462,00.html



I don't think this will have any affect on rio's share price. I am however, concerned about what this will do to the chinese\australian relationship. I'm wondering if this will turn into a chinese pride issue and also if it will turn into a western values against chinese values.

Confucious say -

"Man who try to scratch eyes of banker might lose whole face to banker's angry pet dragon"

 

[haunting]

I am a keen China observer, take a look at my blog here if you don't mind some brainless prattles.

 

[trainspotter]

I liked the part where this happened "Where, precisely, are Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's fluent Mandarin and diplomatic finesse when we need them?" said an editorial in the Herald Sun.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...e-to-intervene-over-Rio-Tinto-detentions.html

 

[So_Cynical]

I was reading somewhere tonight that the RIO offices in Shanghai were bugged
and the Chinese arrested the RIO exec because they were gona be exposed.

 

[jono1887]

I liked the part where this happened "Where, precisely, are Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's fluent Mandarin and diplomatic finesse when we need them?" said an editorial in the Herald Sun.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...e-to-intervene-over-Rio-Tinto-detentions.html

Just because he has good relations with the Chinese, does not mean that he has influence when the charges are espionage... in china, that is like the equivalent of terrorism in the US - just like Howard had no influence over Hicks when he was arrested and taken to Guantanamo, Rudd will have no influence here.

 

[tasmart]

Just because he has good relations with the Chinese, does not mean that he has influence when the charges are espionage... in china, that is like the equivalent of terrorism in the US - just like Howard had no influence over Hicks when he was arrested and taken to Guantanamo, Rudd will have no influence here.

I think his influence may actually be part of the problem especially because of the Chinese style of negotiation

Good article in the Australia today:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/business/story/0,28124,25777529-5013565,00.html

Australians doing business in China suggest that prime ministerial references to his prowess at Mandarin and his understanding of China are widely regarded as unbecoming boastfulness by the Chinese.

 

[trainspotter]

Just because he has good relations with the Chinese, does not mean that he has influence when the charges are espionage... in china, that is like the equivalent of terrorism in the US - just like Howard had no influence over Hicks when he was arrested and taken to Guantanamo, Rudd will have no influence here.

Valid point jono1887. I think being caught in Afghanistan firing an AK47 at the U.S. troops and allegedly having supporting documentation on corruption on Chinese officials are just slightly different. But as you have pointed out the Chinese do operate in a different manner when it comes to state secrets. If Stern Hu has proof that officials are accepting bribes/graft/largesse to close the deal with Rio Tinto then he is in a world of pain. Not even our Mandarin speaking, ex Chinese Diplomat, Prime Minister would be able to save him.

 

[gfresh]

He is screwed. Some lessons are being taught, to both Australians (or any foreigners), and Chinese nationals as the place "seemingly" takes on capitalist ideals, that being the commies always call the shots... It has been that way through recent history. Just when they think they you are free, reel em back in and put the fear of god into them. Tibet, Tiananmen, Western Province, etc.

 

[vincent191]

"Premier Hu Jintao understands how important that is. He obviously thinks it's far more important than whether or not China antagonises Australia or other Western countries and their companies. Lose, lose, lose."

I have being involved in the China trade in Steel making a few years ago. I strongly disagree with the statement above that appeared in the Australian. In the past it was more a case of BHP & RIO antagonising the Chinese. Australia back then has a near strangle hold over China's source of iron ore and coking coal.

I was involved in negotiations and we were told back then to watchout. Australia may have the superior bargaining position then but watchout....."you are not the only ones with iron ore & coal, there are plenty of comparable quality from Latin America, just wait until they catch up with their infra structure and capable of exporting large quantities...."

Now, years latter, how true was that statement. We now have a major competitor from Brazil - Vale. And as more and more Companies come on-line our position is getting weaker all the time. This applies not only to iron ore but also to coking coal.

IMO we should not take the Malcolm Turnbull approach and behave like a bull in a China shop. I say let the diplomats sort this out. Personally, I think this is just a show of strength by the Chinese. Hopefully it will all be sorted out without damaging the relationship. They need our resources and we need their money.

Most major companies in China employ security firms to regularly sweep their premises for bugs and listening devices. Nowadays they are so advance they do not have to plant them in the premises. They can bug conversations from across the street. Apparantly, some devices can pick up conversations from the vibrations on the window glass.

Here is a real story....many years ago a Western country (which shall remain unnamed) was building a new embassy. The Chinese as "a token of friendship" offered to build the embassy for them as a "gift". It was considered very rude to refuse so the Western country had to agree. After the embassy was finished they had their own people sweep the building for spying bugs.

Lo and behold, surprise, surprise the building was found to be "insecure". The major problem was they can't complain to the Chinese and risk a major fallout. The final solution was the Western Country set fire to the entire building and burnt it down and blamed it on an electrical fault. They then approached the Chinese and asked them to "gift" another new building. This was firmly refused, "you careless foreigners" are getting too damn expensive. Hahahaha......that is diplomacy at it's very best.

 

[shag]

thats a great yarn, especially the twist at the end.

they have been portraying remote voice capture etc in films for years now. i was wondering when it started, how much data was left on the computers. maybe its so sophisticated now that it is all remotely held in secure facillities, especially with all of the laptops being lost nowadays.
some tech here must know if you can keep a perfectly clean computer yet, ie the cache etc is completely cleaned somehow after use.

maybe you could keep it all as ram memory.

 

[Buddy]

thats a great yarn, especially the twist at the end.

they have been portraying remote voice capture etc in films for years now. i was wondering when it started, how much data was left on the computers. maybe its so sophisticated now that it is all remotely held in secure facillities, especially with all of the laptops being lost nowadays.
some tech here must know if you can keep a perfectly clean computer yet, ie the cache etc is completely cleaned somehow after use.

maybe you could keep it all as ram memory.

Try format c:/s
Or keep you data on a portable drive with a Mission Impossible destruct mechanism.

 

[gordon2007]

Try format c:/s

That's no where near secure enough in getting rid of data. Any 8yr kid worth his weight can get data back once it's been deleted.

 

[xyzedarteerf]

That's no where near secure enough in getting rid of data. Any 8yr kid worth his weight can get data back once it's been deleted.

that's correct this is better delete the partition + format, data can still be recovered though. the only secure harddrive is crushed one.

Here's what I would do first.

then this.
Hard Drive Crusher.

 

[jono1887]

That's no where near secure enough in getting rid of data. Any 8yr kid worth his weight can get data back once it's been deleted.

What govt's need to implement is more secure portable data devices such as this - https://www.ironkey.com/technology

Apparently is hack proof - it even has a self destruct mechanism if the drive is pried open.

But it is true that formating drives is essentially useless - its like having a filing cabinet full of files and labels... all you are doing is removing the labels. Anyone smart enough is able to still find those files.

 

[Buddy]

That's no where near secure enough in getting rid of data. Any 8yr kid worth his weight can get data back once it's been deleted.

Yes, OK, Correct. I was only trying to be funny. Sorry.
XYZ..etc's solution will probably work.
Or you could try software called SuperShredder. Deleting your files using this program "zeroes" all sectors that the file was using.

 

[gfresh]

Back on topic.. looks like this is only the first step in a full crackdown on dealings in the iron ore industry..

BEIJING -- Chinese investigators have questioned executives at several steel mills in a widening probe of alleged leaks of state secrets to Australian iron ore supplier Rio Tinto Ltd, Chinese media said.

The news comes as Australian officials urged China to move quickly in dealing with the detention of a senior Australian Rio executive on spying accusations, a case that has cast a shadow over bilateral trade worth $53 billion last year.

The broadening investigation targets some of the nation's largest mills, all influential members of the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA), which represents the Chinese industry in annual negotiations with global iron ore miners.

http://www.businessspectator.com.au...obe-widens-Australia-wants-TX5TG?OpenDocument

 

[awg]

V But as you have pointed out the Chinese do operate in a different manner when it comes to state secrets. If Stern Hu has proof that officials are accepting bribes/graft/largesse to close the deal with Rio Tinto then he is in a world of pain. Not even our Mandarin speaking, ex Chinese Diplomat, Prime Minister would be able to save him.

If he had any evidence, he would be a fool if he had not kept ironclad copies and made sure that it was in secure hands, even that may not be enough to get his ass negotiated out of stern.

I have no doubt that China is giving Oz and almighty kick up the bum, to show their displeasure over several matters, as I predicted on the RIO thread.

despite the plaintive protests of our govt, I believe they know what is going on, but they are powerless.

China is deliberately holding that fact up for clear view to all, not just Oz

dont muck with us, we can crush you, as in all powerplays

My prediction would be unless Oz abjects themselves,we will see some more powerplays, to ram the message home.

IMO Chinese businessmen are the hardest of all negotiators

 

[xyzedarteerf]

What govt's need to implement is more secure portable data devices such as this - https://www.ironkey.com/technology

Apparently is hack proof - it even has a self destruct mechanism if the drive is pried open.

But it is true that formating drives is essentially useless - its like having a filing cabinet full of files and labels... all you are doing is removing the labels. Anyone smart enough is able to still find those files.

It's made in CHINA RIGHT veryoff topic my last post...

 

[Macquack]

Apart from any human rights violations by the Chinese, why should we be concerned for Stern Hu as an "Australian". The guy is a blow in.

Mr Hu (Hu Sh@tai) was born in China, lives in Shanghai, has spent less than 8 months in Australia, works for a multi-national company and has never worked a day in Australia.

Hu somehow became an Australian citizen but conveniently remained a Chinese Citizen. I understand if the Chinese government take a dim view of this action.

I applaud the Chinese for their intolerance of "bribery and corruption", while in the West it is considered an acceptable and standard tool of the trade.

I say, Stern your on your own, buddy.