The Wire

China’s arrest of Australian Rio Tinto employee Stern Hu is threatening to fuel tensions between Beijing and Canberra. Mr Hu was arrested with three Chinese colleagues, charged with espionage and bribery. However, he’s been Rio Tinto’s General Manager of iron ore operations during this year’s protracted price negotiations. Chinese officials say they were investigating Rio Tinto before the Chinalco deal fell through, but it’s not a good look. Dr Mike Berrell, a former RMIT professor who now advises multinational businesses operating in China, says the Chinalco controversy and Hu’s arrest should be seen as separate incidents.