Way over the top, Mr Gottliebsen!

Comments on Robert Gottliebsen “Unpleasant truths about China”, 13/07/2009, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Unpleasant-truths-about-China-pd20090713-TVRZW?OpenDocument&src=sph

Robert, although you should be respected for your knowledge of the Chinese, you appear way over the top by linking what occurred in Xinjiang to Mr Stern Hu issue. Good imagination, although most likely speculation, I am afraid. To say that China is now under unprecedented pressure of civil war in Xinjiang probably ignores the facts that there can be many civil unrests in China.

For the other potential trigger you mentioned, there might be some truth, even though that cannot escape as speculation either at this stage.

Why do you assume that the Chinese have got the detention of Mr Stern Hu wrong? Even the Australian foreign minister does not know details of the matter, then how are you so sure and do you think you know better than the minister? Is that you have some information that the minister does not have?

On the matter of the Chinalco matter, you say that both the Australian government and Rio Tinto contributed to the current situation by the way they handed Chinalco. Why do you think both of them got it wrong and you got it right on such dealings? Why was the Rio board inferior compared to you in managing its business?

You also say that Stern Hu has played a remarkable role in maximising the returns for Australia from the mineral boom – something from which all Australians have benefited. That may be correct, and as an Australian, I should be grateful to Mr Stern Hu too. However, while we may have benefited from his work, if he really breached the Chinese law, what should we do in that scenario (and the Chinese say it is that scenario)? We should blame the Chinese just because Mr Stern Hu has benefited us? Don’t you think that is a bit unjust and selfish? If we did that, aren’t we hypocritical?

You blamed Rio and the Australian government. You seem to have forgotten what you advocated at that time for the Australian government to price out Chinalco. Why don’t list this as a trigger for the Chinese detention of Mr Stern Hu?

Australia prosecutes some businessmen for their misconducts every year. Why shouldn't China do the same? Why should China stop if Mr Stern Hu, a Chinese Australian businessman is involved?