Randomly Noted

The trial of the Rio Tinto Four has come to an ugly end with lengthy prison sentences for the Chinese-born employees of the big miner, including Australian citizen Stern Hu. Reporters were allowed to witness the trial’s final day via closed-circuit TV – but no further details about the alleged crimes were forthcoming. We really have no insight into what the four people allegedly did, nor do we know who was on the other side of alleged bribes and exchanges of commercial secrets. As Australia’s foreign minister, Stephen Smith, lamented, “there are serious unanswered questions” about the charges relating to theft of commercial secrets such that “the international business community will want to pursue with China.” Little was heard from Rio Tinto itself – the Australian company has left public statements to Canberra during the eight-month process, and in the past week seemed to distance itself from its employees. This even though the workers’ guilt was by no means established via an open and transparent proceeding. With the exception of Google, Western companies are much too eager to remain in Beijing’s good graces.