The Australians are shocked by the long sentences passed on Rio Tinto executives charged with taking bribes and industrial espionage in China. Rio Tinto has reacted by sacking all four men and has reaffirmed its intention of continuing to supply raw materials to China. These men were arrested after the Australian government blocked a Chinese firm from a taking over Rio Tinto and Australian mining companies refused to supply China at the lower price demanded by the Chinese. This is clearly revenge for the loss of face suffered by the Chinese. Face is very important to the Chinese because they know that they are uncivilised barbarians. Inventing paper or gunpowder and a double digit economic growth do not prove that a people are civilised. A country ruled by a bunch of ruthless thugs, without rule of law, sacrificing its children to the greed of industrialists and destroying the world's biodiversity by eating every creature is a country of uncivilised savages. The mystery is why did the four plead guilty to the charge of accepting bribes. Did the Chinese promise them token punishment and then break their word? Had they fought all charges they would have exposed the Chinese legal system as the farce that it is. Instead by pleading guilty to one charge they had no defence against the more serious charge of industrial espionage. China's growth is dependent on regular supply of raw materials and Australian companies could easily cause major problems by stopping all exports to China. By surrendering to Chinese bullying Australia is showing that it can be bought. India should use this knowledge when demanding safety of our students in Australia.