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Aussie PM urges caution on China spy case

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-07-10 09:39

CANBERRA: Australia is adopting a cautious approach to dealing with Chinese allegations of spying against Shanghai-based staff of Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said on Friday.

Employees are seen at a Rio Tinto office in Shanghai July 9, 2009. China said on Thursday detained staff from Australian miner Rio Tinto had harmed China's economic interests in a case that has rattled currency markets and raised questions about China-Australia relations. [Agencies]

But Rudd, a China expert facing criticism at home for not intervening in the affair on behalf of the company and the one Australian citizen involved, said he would make whatever representations were necessary.

"As with all complex consular cases, we have to proceed cautiously on the basis of the advice as it unfolds," Rudd said in an interview broadcast by state radio ABC. He was speaking from Italy where he was attending the G8 summit.

"The business of dealing with difficult, complex diplomatic questions, particularly when human lives are concerned, requires sensitivity and proper handling," Rudd said. "We'll make representations as appropriate, to whom it is appropriate, and at whatever level."

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Chinese authorities on Sunday arrested four Rio Tinto employees, including the group's top iron ore salesman in China, Australian Stern Hu, saying they were involved in stealing state secrets.

Australian papers were critical of Rudd on Friday, with most calling it a crisis for his center-left government and pointing to a serious deterioration in Canberra's relationship with its second largest export market.

Rudd said Australian diplomats had made "strong" representations to Chinese officials and diplomats from the Beijing embassy were expected to gain consular access to Hu later on Friday.