THE Rudd Government yesterday was forced to deliver its "strong concern" about the detention of Rio Tinto executive Stern Hu to a junior official in the Shanghai Government, again illustrating Canberra's lack of diplomatic traction in China.
Trade Minister Simon Crean's meeting with Sha Hailin — ranked 16 in the Shanghai administration — failed to produce any concessions that might save Mr Hu from China's secretive and capricious legal system.
Experts say Mr Hu could now be detained without access to a lawyer for up to 10 months. He could then be coerced into confessing and tried and convicted without ever being shown the "secret" document he is alleged to have stolen.
The most likely charge would deliver a maximum penalty of seven years, although the death penalty could theoretically apply if authorities charge him with spying for a foreign organisation with intent to endanger China's national security.
Mr Crean met Sha Hailin, deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai Government, yesterday after trying but failing to meet more senior officials.
"In the Shanghai Government you have the mayor of Shanghai, eight vice-mayors, one assistant mayor and then below that you have 11 deputy secretary-generals," said a Shanghai diplomat. "Mr Sha is number five in the hierarchy of deputy secretary-generals." Read more.