Rio Tinto Espionage Scandal. At the final stage of iron ore negotiation, Rio Tinto China confirmed yesterday that four of its employees had been detained, one of whom was Hu Shitai (Stern Hu), the chief representative of Rio Tinto in Shanghai and the General Manager of Chinese iron ore business. According to Caixin.com, a spokesperson for Australian Foreign Minister Smith said yesterday that Rio Tinto employee Hu Shitai was arrested on suspicion of espionage and was also charged with theft.