Comment What about the Rio Tinto factor? (Score 1) 352
I have to wonder if the Stern Hu case is a factor in this. For those not in the know, Stern Hu is an Australian who is currently on trial in China for accepting bribes and industrial espionage. Mr Hu works for Rio Tinto, the iron ore giant that China failed to buy last year.
Everyone knows that bribery is a large part of doing business in China. Stern has been in court for 3 days now. Even consulate officials have been denied presence at the trial, relying on state reports of what went on each day. Stern has admitted he took bribes, although he challenges the amount claimed. He will be sentenced on Monday - the trial started last Monday.
In the article, Michael Dell talks about how he wants to do business in "places with a legal system". I think that the Hu case, Rio Tinto's experience, and the events with Google would be making any enterprise re-evaluate the cost and risk of dealing with China.