Canberra: Australia urged China on Thursday to allow its diplomats full access to the trial of four Rio Tinto staff charged with commercial spying in a case that could hurt political and economic ties.
"The world will be watching how this particular court case is conducted," Prime Minister Kevin Rudd told reporters, adding the Australian government would do everything necessary to support the interest of the Anglo-Australian miner's staff.
China's Foreign Ministry warned Australia against "politicising" the trial, which begins on Monday.
The detention of the four, along with Google's dispute over Internet censorship and hacking complaints, has stoked investors' worries about doing business in China.
The case initially caused tensions between Australia and China. Ties have since recovered, yet could again be soured depending on the outcome of the trial.
China arrested four Rio staff members, including Australian citizen Stern Hu, last July and will start their trial in Shanghai on March 22 on charges of bribery and stealing business secrets.
The trial will be open to hear bribery charges and closed to deal with charges of infringement of commercial secrets. Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Australian diplomats should have access to the latter under a consular pact with Beijing.
"I was disappointed that there was an indication from Chinese officials and the court that Australian officials would not be present, or be able to be present, for the commercial information charge," Smith told reporters.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said access was a matter of "judicial sovereignty" and had been decided "based on Chinese laws and the circumstances of the case".
"Don't confuse the relationship between China's judicial sovereignty and the consular agreement between China and Australia," Qin said at a regular ministry briefing.
"The China-Australian consular agreement must respect China's judicial sovereignty."
Despite the trial, and the collapse of a USD 19.5 billion deal with state-owned aluminum firm Chinalco, Rio is now working with Chinalco on potential joint ventures in Mongolia. Chief executive Tom Albanese is to visit Beijing at the weekend.
China is Australia's biggest trade partner, with trade worth USD 53 billion last year. Australia exported USD 15 billion worth of iron ore to China in 2008, or 41 percent of its iron ore imports.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, March 18, 2010, 16:52