China: Rio Tinto Moves Foreign Staff out

Overseas media report that Rio Tinto has asked its China-based foreign staff to leave the country.  It comes after Chinese authorities arrested four Rio Tinto employees on charges of „stealing state secrets.“

Dow Jones and the Australian Financial Review have both cited Chinese sources to report the allegations, after Rio Tinto executive and Australian citizen Stern Hu was arrested on July 5 along with three Chinese colleagues.

The Australian Financial Review says other foreign companies are also moving employees out of China until the situation becomes more certain.

Rio Tinto refused to comment on the report.

On Thursday, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke raised the issue with officials during climate change talks in China. He cited the need for transparency and assurances that multinational company employees will be treated fairly.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith warned China to think about whether its handling of this matter will have, quote, „adverse implications for it,“ but says he doesn’t believe relations between the two countries will be harmed.

(NTDTV)