China secrets agency says Rio spied for 6 yrs

BEIJING: China���s state secrets watchdog has accused mining multinational Rio Tinto of engaging in commercial spying over six years, saying data on Rio computers showed the espionage came at a huge loss to China. The report and other comments from the secrets agency also said the case of four Rio employees detained and accused of espionage, including one Australian, could foreshadow stricter controls on how foreign companies do business in China.

Rio has said its employees did nothing unethical and did not bribe Chinese steel mills for information. The report issued by China���s National Administration for the Protection of State Secrets said Rio Tinto���s commercial spying involved ���winning over and buying off, prying out intelligence, routing one by one, and gaining things by deceit��� over six years.

���The large amount of intelligence and data from our country���s steel sector found on Rio Tinto���s computers and the massive damage to our national economic security and interests are plainly obvious,��� said the report.