Four Rio Tinto staff detained in China

[FT_news]

Four employees of the Anglo-Australian mining group have been detained in China without explanation, raising tensions as the company is locked in negotiations over iron ore prices.

The detentions have raised tensions as the company is locked in tough negotiations over iron ore prices.

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[forum_admin]

Australia’s foreign affairs minister Stephen Smith told reporters on Wednesday that Stern Hu, Rio Tinto’s iron ore marketing chief in China, had been detained in Shanghai on Sunday on suspicion of espionage and stealing state secrets. The Australian government, meanwhile, is demanding urgent consular access with China over the four employees.

Mr Smith said Mr Hu was an Australian citizen. The other three employees, all part of Rio’s iron ore sales team, were reported to be Chinese passport holders.

It is highly unusual for staff of a large foreign company to be detained in China. The four workers were held for questioning on Sunday. The company said in a statement that it was “concerned about the employees’ wellbeing and is doing everything possible to help them and support their families”.

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Rio Tinto workers held in China