Crean confronts China over Hu spy claims

Trade Minister Simon Crean has expressed "strong concern" to Chinese officials about
the detention of an Australian Rio Tinto executive on suspicion of spying and
stealing state secrets.
Authorities in China, Australia's biggest two-way trading partner, have accused
Stern Hu of bribery and undermining their nation's economic security.
During a trade mission to China, Mr Crean told the Shanghai city government he had
issues with Mr Hu's incarceration.
"The Australian government is deeply concerned about the position surrounding Mr
Hu," Mr Crean told ABC Radio from Shanghai on Saturday.
"We're concerned about his welfare, the access of the family to Mr Hu, the ability
for him to obtain speedy expedition of his case and of course legal representation
and we have been assured that that message will be conveyed to Beijing."
But Mr Crean said he saw no reason why Mr Hu's detention would damage Australia's
trade relations with China, and hoped the case could be resolved diplomatically.
"We can't apply Australian law in China just as China can't apply Chinese law in
Australia," he said.
"What we have to do is work within the system, but to urge at the political level
the importance of dealing with this, first of all based on the welfare of the
individual and secondly expedition of process."
Mr Hu, who was in charge of Rio Tinto's Chinese iron ore operations, was arrested on
Sunday, along with three of his colleagues.
Australian consular officials visited him on Friday.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said while Mr Hu appears to be in good health,
Australian authorities are seeking more information from Chinese authorities about
the incarceration of the Chinese-born Australian citizen.
"Mr Hu appeared well and raised no health or welfare issues during the meeting," Mr
Smith said in a statement on Saturday.
Rio Tinto iron ore chief executive Sam Walsh said the company remained surprised and
concerned over the detention of its employees, and said Chinese authorities had not
informed Rio of any charges against its staff.
But Mr Walsh, who was briefed about the consular visit, was more positive about Mr
Hu's welfare.
"We are very glad to hear he is in good health," Mr Walsh said in a statement.
The opposition has called on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to intervene directly in Mr
Hu's case rather than leaving it to consular officials.
They have been joined in their call by former Rio Tinto boss John Dougall, who
sponsored Mr Hu's Australian citizenship in 1994.
"Stern Hu is an Australian trade hero, and what's happened to him is a disgrace," Mr
Dougall told Sky News.
Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce has linked Mr Hu's arrest with Rio's rejection
of Chinese state-owned aluminium firm Chinalco's bid to double its stake in the
Anglo-Australian miner, to 18 per cent.
"It gives more credence to the argument that this is a political set-up by China,
retribution for the actions of Rio or what they believe is a deal that hasn't gone
their way," Senator Joyce told Sky News on Saturday, adding that Australia's
softly-spoken response to Mr Hu's detention was akin to self censorship.
Chinalco has said the detention of the four Rio Tinto employees on spying charges is
not related to its failed bid.
According to a Chinese government website, Mr Hu is accused of bribing staff from
Chinese steel firms earlier this year during iron ore price negotiations.
The authorities say this "caused huge loss to China's national economic security and
interests".