4 Rio Tinto employees detained over spying

Watch Video>>

Qin said, "The four suspects were detained by relevant authorities  in China after obtaining hard evidence that they participated in  activities aimed at stealing China's state secrets and threatening  China's economic security. But this does not imply that China will  politicize this case and let its negative influence get out of  control."

China's Foreign Ministry says four employees of the Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto have been arrested for allegedly stealing state secrets. One is the general manager of the company's Shanghai office, Stern Hu.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang says the four people were detained by security authorities on Sunday evening. He says China will handle the Rio Tinto spy case according to law. Qin also stressed this individual case will not change China's proactive attitude toward economic and trade cooperation with Australia.

Qin said, "The four suspects were detained by relevant authorities in China after obtaining hard evidence that they participated in activities aimed at stealing China's state secrets and threatening China's economic security. But this does not imply that China will politicize this case and let its negative influence get out of control."