China warned Australia on Thursday not to interfere in the case of a Rio Tinto executive held on spy claims, after Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd took a tough line against Beijing.
”We are firmly against anyone stirring up the case and interfering with the independent judicial authority of China. This is not in the interest of Australia,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Qin Gang told reporters.
Rudd warned on Wednesday that China had ”significant” business interests on the line in the case of Rio Tinto executive Stern Hu, and cautioned that foreign governments and international companies were watching developments closely.
Hu, an Australian passport holder, and three Chinese colleagues were arrested by counter-espionage agents in Shanghai on July 5 for alleged bribery offences that China says equate to spying and stealing state secrets.
Qin also warned foreign companies doing business in China to respect Chinese rules.
”There is … an old Chinese saying: A man of noble character acquires his wealth by honourable means,” he said.
”What is honourable means? First it’s the law. We request foreign enterprises in China to abide by the laws and regulations of China.” — AFP
