Translating Chinese News: "Chinese steel enterprise trade secrets discovered in Rio Tinto computers"
Having studied a whole year of Chinese Journalistic Reading （中文报刊阅读） and almost as much News Listening Comprehension （新闻听力）... I thought maybe I'd try putting it to use to see what the Chinese Press are saying about the Rio Tinto / Hu Stern "Corporate Espionage" case. The results: there's a LOT more information and opinion on the matter to be had in the Chinese language Chinese press than there is in the English Language press - Australian, Chinese, or otherwise. I thought it might be interesting to attempt translating a piece or two.
After I showed an opinion piece from the SMH to a Chinese friend as an example of the Australian perspective, he recommended I read the this article to see a Chinese point of view. I've translated it into English below. Comments and corrections welcome.
Trade Secrets of dozens of Chinese steel enterprises discovered in Rio Tinto computers
Rio Tinto "spygate" scandal could drag in two other mining giants.
13/07/2009: According to insiders familiar with the matter, data relating to dozens of steel enterprises having long term contracts and agreements with Rio Tinto has been discovered hidden on computers seized by authorities from Rio's Shanghai office. The data involved relates to steel enterprises' detailed purchase plans, production schedules and raw material stocks. The data even includes explicit details on the monthly production volumes and sales activities of one or more large-scale steel enterprises.
"[Rio Tinto] knows Chinese steel mills like the back of their own hands", the source said. "The miners understand the steel producers' businesses better than even the producers' own bosses."
Operation of "Inside Sources" not a secret
According to reports, the computers seized by police contain detailed analysis of technologies and methods employed by Chinese steel enterprises, and extremely accurate data on production variables. "[The data] does not seem to have been arrived at by conjecture", says the source.
According to those within the industry, "the mining companies' understanding of the behind-the-scenes operation of steel companies may in a large part come from steel company employees responsible for particular parts of business operations." Taking as an example the the case of Tan Yixin {assistant to the General Manager of Shougang Group}, insiders say that although he and Rio Tinto Shanghai Office General Manager Hu Stern had a very good personal relationship, information revealed by Mr Tan to Mr Hu for the most part only included a few particulars of iron ore negotiations. They say that Mr Tan would not have risked himself by providing detailed production information to Mr Stern. Insiders say the information was more likely obtained through staff working in departments responsible for the operation of various parts of the steel enterprises' business.
Senior steel industry figures say that mining company recruitment often emphasises "experience working in large-scale steel production enterprises". This means that many mining company employees are originally personnel from the high levels of Chinese steel enterprises, and are therefore extremely familiar with the enterprises' operations. Even the most recent production and sales information is easily accessible to them through personal connections. "It is certainly quite possible that the mining companies' understanding of the steel producers is obtained through these types of inside sources", industry figures say.
A quick search of Hu Stern's itinerary shows he and his colleagues would carry out on-site inspections at steel mills almost every month. The inspections did not just include industry magnates Baosteel, Shougang and Laigang, but also included visits small and medium sized steel producers, including to Xinsteel, Ping Xiang, and Jingye.
"Hu Stern's appearances were in order to establish high-level relationships. Detailed information was then collected by his colleagues at the lower levels", say staff members at Hebei Iron & Steel Group. According to staff members, mining company representatives would make visits almost every month. Telephone calls were even more frequent, coming at least once a week. According to industry insiders, "personal connections" between mining and steel production companies were very close. Apart from the usual "kickbacks", mining company personnel would also give gifts to steel company counterparts at Chinese New Year and other festivals. "Gifts were not only given at high levels, even those responsible for work at the mid-levels of the company received gifts."
Three Mining Giants "in the same pair of trousers"?
Even if the current case against Rio Tinto does not further expand, there are already a variety of signs to indicate that the other two of the "three mining giants" most likely found it difficult to operate independently, and exclusively in their own interests.
"From the perspective of transaction motivators, the "three mining giants" have a union of common interest. For Rio Tinto, it would not have been worthwhile taking on the risks whilst allowing the other two sit back and enjoy the benefits. Therefore I believe that 'Spygate' could yet drag in BHP and Vale (CVRD)." OCN {a Chinese investment consultant} head of energy research Jiang Xu believes that "inside information" and bribery have become the "hidden rules" of the steel industry. Suspicion that Rio Tinto has been caught using these "hidden rules" to its own advantage does not eliminate the possibility that BHP and Vale also copied these methods in their own deals.
BHP's large-scale entertainment of guests from Chinese enterprises - including large steel enterprises - during last year's Olympic Games previously attracted large-scale controversy. What BHP termed "building personal ties" has been criticised as commercial bribery.
According to industry insiders, "even though negotiations take place separately, the mining companies all make contact with each other in advance." In previous rounds of iron-ore initial price negotiations, when an agreement is reached with any of the iron ore producers it becomes the initial iron ore price for the current year, and the remaining producers follow suit under the same terms and conditions. In reality, this ties the three mining giants together as a single interest group.
"As soon as searches are made, [BHP and Vale] will be unable to escape implication", Steel Authority personnel told this reporter on 13 July. The only remaining question is when will the Chinese side get involved.
数十中国钢企机密 被曝藏身力拓电脑
力拓“间谍门”这根线头，或牵出另两大矿业巨头
13日，有内部知情人士透露，被有关部门带走的澳大利亚力拓集团上海办事处办公电脑已被 “拿下”--数十家与力拓签有长协合同的钢企资料藏身电脑。这些资料涉及了企业详细的采购计划、原料库存、生产安排等数据，甚至连有的大型钢企每月的钢铁产量、销售情况也非常明晰。
“(力拓)对中国钢厂的情况了如指掌”，该知情人士表示。“矿山甚至比有些企业的老总更了解他们的公司。”
“内鬼”操作已非秘密
据悉，被警方带走的力拓办公电脑中对我国各钢企的技术分析非常详细，各生产流程的参数也非常准确。“不像是推测出来的。”知情人士表示。
“在我们公司，能知道原料库存、生产安排、销售情况等细节的人不超过10个。”13日，河北钢企相关人士表示，矿山能够掌握这些企业机密，可能早已买通相关企业的具体生产经营人士。
“矿山对钢铁企业很多内幕的掌握可能更多来自钢企具体的业务人员。”有业内人士表示，以目前涉案的谭以新来看，虽然力拓集团上海办事处总经理胡士泰与谭以新私交很好，但谭在首钢身居高位，最多是透露铁矿石谈判的一些细节，不可能自降身份把首钢的生产经营信息等细节都提供给胡士泰，矿山更有可能通过具体部门的人员了解这些资料。
钢铁业资深人士告诉记者，由于矿山企业在招聘时突出“有在大型钢铁企业工作经验”的细节，矿山企业中很多员工原本就是中方钢企的中高层职员，对于钢企的生产情况自然了然于胸；即便是新近的生产销售情况，他们通过一些人脉关系也能够轻易取得。“矿山通过‘内鬼’掌握钢企信息并非不可能。”
搜索胡士泰的一些行程可以发现，胡士泰几乎每个月都与下属一起到钢厂考察，这其中不仅包括宝钢、首钢、莱钢等钢企巨头，也包括新钢、萍钢、敬业等中小钢铁企业。
“胡士泰出面是为建立高层联系，具体细节由下属接着沟通。”河北钢企人士告诉记者，矿山几乎每个月都会来人拜访，电话更是每周都有。业内人士透露，矿山企业和钢铁企业的“感情沟通”非常紧密，除正常的“业务提成”外，很多矿山逢年过节都会对相关人员进行必要的打点。“这种打点不仅针对中高层，对涉及具体业务的中层人士也不放松。”
三大巨头穿一条裤子？
作为“铁矿石三巨头”的另外两方，尽管目前力拓的案子并未扩大化，但种种迹象表明两巨头或许也难独善其身。
“从交易的动机来看，三巨头属同一利益联盟，力拓也不至于自己独自去冒风险，而让另外两家来坐享其成。因此，‘间谍门’未来牵扯到必和必拓和淡水河谷也有可能。”中投顾问能源首席研究员姜谦认为，“内鬼”和商业贿赂已经成为钢铁行业的“潜规则”，既然力拓涉嫌运用这些规则为己谋利，当然也就不能排除必和必拓和淡水河谷也在复制交易。
必和必拓去年奥运会期间高规格招待包括某大型国有钢企在内的中国钢企的行为曾在业内引发巨大争议，必和必拓自称“沟通感情”的行为也被指责为商业贿赂。
“尽管是分开谈判，但矿山在谈判之前都有沟通。”有业内人士告诉记者，按照此前的铁矿石首发价原则，谈判任一方先达成协议，即为当年的首发价，其余各方均遵照执行，这实际上将三大矿山捆绑为一个利益共同体。
“一旦搜查，(必和必拓、淡水河谷)逃脱不了干系。”7月13日，有钢铁权威人士对表示，唯一的疑问是中方什么时候介入。
Disclaimer: I'm not a professional translator. This translation will contain errors.
After I showed an opinion piece from the SMH to a Chinese friend as an example of the Australian perspective, he recommended I read the this article to see a Chinese point of view. I've translated it into English below. Comments and corrections welcome.
Trade Secrets of dozens of Chinese steel enterprises discovered in Rio Tinto computers
Rio Tinto "spygate" scandal could drag in two other mining giants.
13/07/2009: According to insiders familiar with the matter, data relating to dozens of steel enterprises having long term contracts and agreements with Rio Tinto has been discovered hidden on computers seized by authorities from Rio's Shanghai office. The data involved relates to steel enterprises' detailed purchase plans, production schedules and raw material stocks. The data even includes explicit details on the monthly production volumes and sales activities of one or more large-scale steel enterprises.
"[Rio Tinto] knows Chinese steel mills like the back of their own hands", the source said. "The miners understand the steel producers' businesses better than even the producers' own bosses."
Operation of "Inside Sources" not a secret
According to reports, the computers seized by police contain detailed analysis of technologies and methods employed by Chinese steel enterprises, and extremely accurate data on production variables. "[The data] does not seem to have been arrived at by conjecture", says the source.
According to those within the industry, "the mining companies' understanding of the behind-the-scenes operation of steel companies may in a large part come from steel company employees responsible for particular parts of business operations." Taking as an example the the case of Tan Yixin {assistant to the General Manager of Shougang Group}, insiders say that although he and Rio Tinto Shanghai Office General Manager Hu Stern had a very good personal relationship, information revealed by Mr Tan to Mr Hu for the most part only included a few particulars of iron ore negotiations. They say that Mr Tan would not have risked himself by providing detailed production information to Mr Stern. Insiders say the information was more likely obtained through staff working in departments responsible for the operation of various parts of the steel enterprises' business.
Senior steel industry figures say that mining company recruitment often emphasises "experience working in large-scale steel production enterprises". This means that many mining company employees are originally personnel from the high levels of Chinese steel enterprises, and are therefore extremely familiar with the enterprises' operations. Even the most recent production and sales information is easily accessible to them through personal connections. "It is certainly quite possible that the mining companies' understanding of the steel producers is obtained through these types of inside sources", industry figures say.
A quick search of Hu Stern's itinerary shows he and his colleagues would carry out on-site inspections at steel mills almost every month. The inspections did not just include industry magnates Baosteel, Shougang and Laigang, but also included visits small and medium sized steel producers, including to Xinsteel, Ping Xiang, and Jingye.
"Hu Stern's appearances were in order to establish high-level relationships. Detailed information was then collected by his colleagues at the lower levels", say staff members at Hebei Iron & Steel Group. According to staff members, mining company representatives would make visits almost every month. Telephone calls were even more frequent, coming at least once a week. According to industry insiders, "personal connections" between mining and steel production companies were very close. Apart from the usual "kickbacks", mining company personnel would also give gifts to steel company counterparts at Chinese New Year and other festivals. "Gifts were not only given at high levels, even those responsible for work at the mid-levels of the company received gifts."
Three Mining Giants "in the same pair of trousers"?
Even if the current case against Rio Tinto does not further expand, there are already a variety of signs to indicate that the other two of the "three mining giants" most likely found it difficult to operate independently, and exclusively in their own interests.
"From the perspective of transaction motivators, the "three mining giants" have a union of common interest. For Rio Tinto, it would not have been worthwhile taking on the risks whilst allowing the other two sit back and enjoy the benefits. Therefore I believe that 'Spygate' could yet drag in BHP and Vale (CVRD)." OCN {a Chinese investment consultant} head of energy research Jiang Xu believes that "inside information" and bribery have become the "hidden rules" of the steel industry. Suspicion that Rio Tinto has been caught using these "hidden rules" to its own advantage does not eliminate the possibility that BHP and Vale also copied these methods in their own deals.
BHP's large-scale entertainment of guests from Chinese enterprises - including large steel enterprises - during last year's Olympic Games previously attracted large-scale controversy. What BHP termed "building personal ties" has been criticised as commercial bribery.
According to industry insiders, "even though negotiations take place separately, the mining companies all make contact with each other in advance." In previous rounds of iron-ore initial price negotiations, when an agreement is reached with any of the iron ore producers it becomes the initial iron ore price for the current year, and the remaining producers follow suit under the same terms and conditions. In reality, this ties the three mining giants together as a single interest group.
"As soon as searches are made, [BHP and Vale] will be unable to escape implication", Steel Authority personnel told this reporter on 13 July. The only remaining question is when will the Chinese side get involved.
数十中国钢企机密 被曝藏身力拓电脑
力拓“间谍门”这根线头，或牵出另两大矿业巨头
13日，有内部知情人士透露，被有关部门带走的澳大利亚力拓集团上海办事处办公电脑已被 “拿下”--数十家与力拓签有长协合同的钢企资料藏身电脑。这些资料涉及了企业详细的采购计划、原料库存、生产安排等数据，甚至连有的大型钢企每月的钢铁产量、销售情况也非常明晰。
“(力拓)对中国钢厂的情况了如指掌”，该知情人士表示。“矿山甚至比有些企业的老总更了解他们的公司。”
“内鬼”操作已非秘密
据悉，被警方带走的力拓办公电脑中对我国各钢企的技术分析非常详细，各生产流程的参数也非常准确。“不像是推测出来的。”知情人士表示。
“在我们公司，能知道原料库存、生产安排、销售情况等细节的人不超过10个。”13日，河北钢企相关人士表示，矿山能够掌握这些企业机密，可能早已买通相关企业的具体生产经营人士。
“矿山对钢铁企业很多内幕的掌握可能更多来自钢企具体的业务人员。”有业内人士表示，以目前涉案的谭以新来看，虽然力拓集团上海办事处总经理胡士泰与谭以新私交很好，但谭在首钢身居高位，最多是透露铁矿石谈判的一些细节，不可能自降身份把首钢的生产经营信息等细节都提供给胡士泰，矿山更有可能通过具体部门的人员了解这些资料。
钢铁业资深人士告诉记者，由于矿山企业在招聘时突出“有在大型钢铁企业工作经验”的细节，矿山企业中很多员工原本就是中方钢企的中高层职员，对于钢企的生产情况自然了然于胸；即便是新近的生产销售情况，他们通过一些人脉关系也能够轻易取得。“矿山通过‘内鬼’掌握钢企信息并非不可能。”
搜索胡士泰的一些行程可以发现，胡士泰几乎每个月都与下属一起到钢厂考察，这其中不仅包括宝钢、首钢、莱钢等钢企巨头，也包括新钢、萍钢、敬业等中小钢铁企业。
“胡士泰出面是为建立高层联系，具体细节由下属接着沟通。”河北钢企人士告诉记者，矿山几乎每个月都会来人拜访，电话更是每周都有。业内人士透露，矿山企业和钢铁企业的“感情沟通”非常紧密，除正常的“业务提成”外，很多矿山逢年过节都会对相关人员进行必要的打点。“这种打点不仅针对中高层，对涉及具体业务的中层人士也不放松。”
三大巨头穿一条裤子？
作为“铁矿石三巨头”的另外两方，尽管目前力拓的案子并未扩大化，但种种迹象表明两巨头或许也难独善其身。
“从交易的动机来看，三巨头属同一利益联盟，力拓也不至于自己独自去冒风险，而让另外两家来坐享其成。因此，‘间谍门’未来牵扯到必和必拓和淡水河谷也有可能。”中投顾问能源首席研究员姜谦认为，“内鬼”和商业贿赂已经成为钢铁行业的“潜规则”，既然力拓涉嫌运用这些规则为己谋利，当然也就不能排除必和必拓和淡水河谷也在复制交易。
必和必拓去年奥运会期间高规格招待包括某大型国有钢企在内的中国钢企的行为曾在业内引发巨大争议，必和必拓自称“沟通感情”的行为也被指责为商业贿赂。
“尽管是分开谈判，但矿山在谈判之前都有沟通。”有业内人士告诉记者，按照此前的铁矿石首发价原则，谈判任一方先达成协议，即为当年的首发价，其余各方均遵照执行，这实际上将三大矿山捆绑为一个利益共同体。
“一旦搜查，(必和必拓、淡水河谷)逃脱不了干系。”7月13日，有钢铁权威人士对表示，唯一的疑问是中方什么时候介入。
Disclaimer: I'm not a professional translator. This translation will contain errors.